Mutation Research 627 (2007) 158–163 Cytogenetic damage in workers from a coal-fired power plant Mustafa Celik a , Lale Donbak a,∗ , Fatma Unal b , Deniz Y ¨ uzbasıoglu b , H¨ useyin Aksoy b , Serkan Yılmaz b a University of Kahramanmaras S¨ utc¨ u Imam, Science and Arts Faculty, Department of Biology, Kahramanmaras, Turkey b University of Gazi, Science and Arts Faculty, Department of Biology, Ankara, Turkey Received 25 July 2006; received in revised form 21 October 2006; accepted 10 November 2006 Available online 18 December 2006 Abstract The aim of this study was to investigate the genotoxic risk to workers occupationally exposed to coal combustion products in Afsin-Elbistan A power plant, located in south-eastern Turkey. We analysed chromosomal aberrations (CAs), polyploidy, sister- chromatid exchanges (SCEs), and micronuclei (MN) in 48 male workers without a history of smoking, tobacco chewing, or alcohol consumption. The results were compared with a control group of 30 healthy male individuals without exposure to any known genotoxic agents. The mean frequencies of CA, polyploidy, SCEs (P < 0.01), and MN (P < 0.05) were significantly higher in workers than in the control group, by the Mann–Whitney U-test. Spearman’s rho correlation analysis revealed a significant increase in the frequency of CA and MN with increasing years of exposure (P <0.05). However, there was no significant effect of age on the cytogenetic markers analysed in both groups (P > 0.05). The data obtained from this study clearly showed chromosomal hazard in the peripheral lymphocytes of workers exposed to coal combustion products in Afsin-Elbistan A power plant for several years. This cytogenetic damage might be attributed to the cumulative effects of several substances due to chemical complexity of the coal ash and gaseous emissions rather than a specific substance. © 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. Keywords: Sister chromatid exchange; Chromosomal aberrations; Micronucleus; Genotoxic risk; Coal-fired power plant; Coal combustion products 1. Introduction Coal-fueled power plants are one of the major sources of environmental pollution because of release of coal combustion products. These products include flue gasses and particulate materials like fly ash (which may be collected from flue gas by means of electrostatic pre- cipitators, but is released to the air via chimneys if there is no flue gas cleaning equipment present) and bottom ∗ Corresponding author at: Kahramanmaras S¨ utc¨ u Imam Univer- sitesi, Fen Edebiyat Fak¨ ultesi, Biyoloji B¨ ol¨ um¨ u, Avsar Yerleskesi, Kahramanmaras, Turkiye. Tel.: +90 344 2191000; fax: +90 344 2191042. E-mail address: lale@ksu.edu.tr (L. Donbak). ash (which is removed at the bottom of the boiler). Coal ash particles are a complex mixture, consisting of CO x , NO x , SO x , amorphous silicon–aluminium–glass, quartz, unburned carbon, heavy metals (arsenic, boron, cadmium, chromium, copper, lead, selenium, iron, zinc, etc.), radioactive elements (uranium, thorium, radium, radon), and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) [1–3]. Most of these substances are also present in the gaseous emissions. The chemical content of coal ash varies with the type of coal, amount of incombustible substance in the coal, pulverization and combustion pro- cesses and also precipitation techniques [4–6]. In earlier studies concerning the health risks of work- ers from coal-fired power stations, prolonged, high exposure to coal ash (>5 mg/m 3 ) has been demonstrated 1383-5718/$ – see front matter © 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/j.mrgentox.2006.11.003