Chromosomal alterations in peripheral lymphocytes of female cabin attendants

Purpose: To analyse lymphocyte chromosomes from female cabin attendants flying the North Atlantic route. Materials and methods: Peripheral lymphocytes from 58 cabin attendants and 29 controls, all female, were cultured and analyzed for structural chromosomal aberrations and sister chromatid exchanges (SCE). Cytogenetic data from 56 age-matched females from Berlin investigated between 1994 and 1996 as part of routine medical checks were used as an additional control group. Results: The mean frequencies of dicentric and ring chromosomes per 1000 cells amount to 1.3+/-0.2 in cabin attendants, 1.4+/-0.2 in ground personnel and 1.3+/-0.2 in the Berlin central group. Sister chromatid exchanges were found at mean frequencies of 7.0+/-0.1, 6.8+/-0.1 and 6.8+/-0.2 per cell respectively in the three groups. Conclusions: When compared with controls, cabin attendants have no elevation of the frequencies of dicentric and ring chromosomes and SCE.