Monitoring genotoxic damage in tobacco chewers using buccal mucosal cells

Abstract

Deleterious changes in the genetic material of an individual, caused by various genotoxic substances, leads to various severe anomalies and cancers. Cancer may develop either due to carcinogens (environmental factors) or due to cancer causing genes called oncogenes (genetic factors). Nitrosamines, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, nicotine are some carcinogens