Mutagen sensitivity assays in population studies

Human population monitoring studies are frequently conducted to determine if exposure to environmental mutagenic agents can cause health problems or not. In these studies, a variety of biomarkers are used to identify biological events that are predictive of health consequences. An emphasis in this report is on the use of mutagen sensitivity assays to understand health risk. The assay is based on the assumption that exposure to mutagenic chemicals or mixtures of chemicals for a long time can cause cellular changes that are expressed as mutagen sensitivity. From experience in using these assays in cancer patients and in mutagen-exposed populations, it is clear that the expression of mutagen sensitivity is based on the interactions between mutagen exposure and individual susceptibility. When studies are conducted under appropriate conditions, expression of mutagen sensitivity is suggestive of increased risk for environmental disease such as cancer.