Background: A crucial early event in polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) carcinogenesis is the induction of genomic instability phenotype that initiates the progression of a proliferative cell into a cancer cell. However, epidemiological results have been inconsistent.
Objectives: To assess reported studies of associations between the levels of chromosomal damage including sister chromatid exchange (SCE), chromosomal aberrations (CA), and cytokinesis-block micronucleus (CBMN) in peripheral blood lymphocytes and occupational exposure to PAHs.
Methods: Meta-analysis on the association between chromosomal damage and occupational exposure to PAHs was performed with STATA 10.0 software package and Review Manager 4.2.10 in this study.
Results: We found statistically significant differences in the frequencies of SCE, CBMN, and CA (aberrations per 100 cells) in peripheral blood lymphocytes between PAHs-exposed group and control group, and the summary estimates of weighted mean difference were 1.42 (95% CI: 0.82-2.02), 1.22 (95% CI: 0.33-2.10), and 0.96 (95% CI: 0.37-1.56), respectively.
Conclusions: Data indicate that the frequencies of SCE, CBMN, and CA (aberrations per 100 cells) in peripheral blood lymphocytes might be indicators of early genetic effects for occupationally PAHs-exposed population.