SISTER-CHROMATID EXCHANGE INDUCING EFFECT OF SMOKELESS TOBACCO USING ON T-LYMPHOCYTE CHROMOSOMES

A kind of a smokeless tobacco (Maras powder) is widely used instead of cigarettes in the South Eastern region of Turkey. In this study we investigated the sister-chromatid exchange (SCE) inducing effect of this powder on the chromosomes of its users compared with smokers and nonsmokers using standard cell culture methods and SCE staining techniques. Average SCE per metaphase and total SCEs increased significantly among both smokeless tobacco users and smokers compared to nonsmokers (p < 0.01). However, the effect is significantly lower in smokeless tobacco users than in smokers (p < 0.05)