Baptista, FátimaGarcia, Patrícia V.Rodrigues, Armindo S.Ladeira, Carina2025-06-042025-06-042025-05Baptista F, Garcia PV, Rodrigues AS, Ladeira C. Genotoxicity and cytotoxicity assessment of volatile organic compounds in pathology professionals through the buccal micronuclei assay. Toxics. 2025;13(5):411.2305-6304http://hdl.handle.net/10400.21/21905This research was funded by cE3c (DOI: 10.54499/UIDB/00329/2020), IVAR (DOI: 10.54499/UIDP/00643/2020), H&TRC FCT/MCTES UIDP/05608/2020 (DOI: 10.54499/UIDP/05608/2020), and UIDB/05608/2020 (DOI: 10.54499/UIDB/05608/2020).In pathology laboratories, several volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are used, such as formaldehyde, ethanol, and xylene. These substances are recognized as genotoxic and cytotoxic, which is why their handling poses risks to human health. The buccal micronucleus (MN) cytome assay is a non-invasive, useful, and simple method to detect these effects in exposed individuals. The study aimed to evaluate the risk of genotoxicity and cytotoxicity of VOCs in pathology professionals of S. Miguel Island, Azores, Portugal. The study comprised two groups: exposed workers (n = 21) from the three laboratories of S. Miguel, and a reference group (n = 50), randomly chosen from other hospital services without known exposure to VOCs. The exfoliated buccal cells were auto-sampled by all the participants using a cytobrush. The samples were processed in ThinPrep®, stained with modified Feulgen with Fast Green, and visualized for MN and other nuclear anomalies (ONAs), such as karyorrhexis, pyknotic, and karyolytic cells. Results showed that VOCs have a predictive significance for MN frequency, leading to the conclusion that their exposure is an increased risk factor for the health of these professionals, approximately four times greater than in the control group.engDNA damageBuccal mucosa cellsMicronucleiOccupational exposurePathology labVolatile organic compoundsFCT_UIDP/05608/2020FCT_UIDB/05608/2020journal article10.3390/toxics13050411