Abstract

Sarhan Rashid Sarhan, Nibras Zeyad Yahya, Orooba Mohammed Saeed Ibrahim.

Deletion of the polymorphism of GST genes accompanied several kinds of cancers such as skin, lung, and colon cancers. The GSTs genetic polymorphisms possibly have a great effect on susceptibility of individual to "damage of DNA" and the occurrence of different types of cancers. This study aimed to detect the genetic damage in population who working in charcoal-making kilns by using the alkaline comet assay. Blood PAHs concentrations in blood and the effect of the glutathione S-transferases genotype polymorphisms on the DNA damage were studied. The values of the mean tail moment (TM) in exposed subjects were significantly higher (14.12±0.65; p<0.05) than control (0.31±0.23; P<0.05). The results demonstrate a considerable relationship between the TM values and GSTM1 and GSTT1 genotypes that recorded in this study. The results suggested that the DNA damage in charcoal-making workers were increased with the increase the exposure time to PAHs. We concluded that the GSTM1 and GSTT1 genes polymorphisms may be responsible for the observed DNA damage.