Prof. Anna Tompa

Prof. Anna Tompa

Deputy Director | Professor | Semmelweis University Department of Public Health | Hungary



Biography

Prof. Anna Tompa has completed her Ph.D. from Semmelweis University, Budapest. She was the Head of the Department of Public Health Institute and National Institute of Chemical Safety, a premier research organization. She has published more than 135 papers in reputed journals and has been serving as an editorial board member of many repute Hungarian and International journals.

University: Semmelweis University Faculty of Medicine 1964-1970.

Institute of Pathology and Cancer Research: Assistant Professor: from 1970 to 1979.

Eppley Institute Omaha NE. visiting scientist: from1976 to1978.

National Institute of Occupational Health: chief scientist, from 1979 to 1998.

DKFZ, Heidelberg: visiting scientist  (annually one or two months) from 1986 to 1989.

National Institute of Chemical Safety: director from1998  to 2005. At present: Research Director.

Semmelweis University Department of Public Health: professor and director from 2005 to 2010. At present, she is now the Deputy Director, Professor Emeritus.

 

Abstract

Formaldehyde (FA) is a widely used chemical, what is classified by IARC, as a human carcinogen based on several sufficient scientific pieces of evidence. Several studies concluded  FA is mutagenic and genotoxic in different experimental settings and also cause cancer to human during long-term Occupational exposure. In our study, we have examined 73 individuals (59 women and 14 men) worked for the pathology department in different hospitals as a pathologist or histological assistants. FA ambient air concentration level was measured in only in one unit of four, what was ranged from 0.4 mg/m3 to 1.1 mg/m3, with a mean formaldehyde level of 0.9 mg/m3. The average exposure time varied between 12-20 yrs. Blood samples were collected by venipuncture. The donors took part in a routine clinical laboratory check-up and were interviewed by a physician to take up an anamnesis data sheet on age, medication, smoking, drinking habits, medical and working histories. The end-points of the genotoxicology monitor included the determination of the frequencies of Chromosome Aberrations (CA) and Sister-Chromatid Exchanges (SCE) and the measurement of UV-induced unscheduled DNA repair synthesis (UDS). The percentages of Premature Centromere Separation (PCD ) and high-frequency SCEs (HF/SCE) were also scored. Apoptosis, immune-phenotype and cell proliferation parameters were determined by flow cytometry.  The average age of exposed donors was 43 yrs, compared to 146 (34 years old) historical controls and 86 industrial controls (34 yrs old).

In the exposed groups the results showed elevation in chromosomal aberrations, DNA repair, and SCE value, although the apoptotic rate of peripheral blood lymphocytes was decreased especially among men, after in vitro PHA stimulation of PBL cells. Immunotoxic effect of FA was also demonstrated and immune suppression varied on cytotoxic T cells and NK cells in the different rate of exposed groups.

In our study demonstrated the early genotoxic and immunotoxic effect on different occupationally FA-exposed groups, giving an evidence for intervention and improve the working conditions. Based on our study we are going on to force the Hungarian hospital management to replace the FA with other less harmful fixatives in pathology units.