Abstract
INTRODUCTION: The most significant industrial utilization of carbon disulfide (CS2) has been in the manufacture of cellulose rayon, cellophane, and rubber industry. CS2 prompts expanded recurrence of chromosomal variations in laborers occupationally exposed to CS2. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In the current study, the DNA analysis was carried out from exfoliated buccal epithelial cells from rubber industry workers exposed to CS2 and an equal number of healthy control subjects. Both the control and experimental subjects were categorized by their smoking habits such as smokers (S) and non-smokers (NS). Furthermore, experimental subjects were further separated based on their exposure period. Students t-test statistical tools were used to analyze the final results. RESULTS: The present analysis identified a high frequency of DNA damage in rubber industry workers (16.55±0.43) than control subjects (9.8±0.21). Also, maximum number of DNA damage detected in smoking experimental group (18.27±0.02) than non-smoking experimental (15.02±0.01) and smoking control groups (10.25±0.04 ). CONCLUSION: Smoking habits synergistically increased the DNA damage in the rubber industry workers exposed to CS2.