Abstract
BACKGROUND/AIM: Dockers of seaport working as stevedores are self-employed workers who carry out arduous and dangerous activities. To date, few studies have investigated the human health risks in these professionals. The aim of this study was to evaluate cytogenetic damage in oral cells of dockers of seaports working as stevedores by micronucleus assay in buccal cells. PATIENTS AND METHODS: For this study, a total of 26 seaport dockers working as stevedores aged 51.2±8.4 years (all men) were included in this study. All volunteers had worked for at least 3 years. The control group consisted of 25 participants aged 55.2±9.9 years (all men), who did not work in the Port of Santos city. RESULTS: The results showed statistically significant differences (p<0.05) of micronucleated cells in buccal mucosa cells of seaport dockers. Pyknosis, karyolysis and karrhyorexis did not show statistically significant differences (p>0.05) between groups. CONCLUSION: The results of the present study suggest that seaport dockers present mutagenicity in oral cells.