Suitability of Conjunctival Mucosa Cytological Samples for Genotoxic Assessment: Micronucleus Assay Applied to Workers Exposed to Ionizing Radiation

This study investigated an alternative, less invasive approach for implementing genetic biomonitoring in healthcare professionals occupationally exposed to ionizing radiation. The main objectives were to evaluate the suitability of conjunctival mucosa as a cellular sample for the micronucleus assay in occupationally exposed individuals and to contribute to the development of less invasive strategies for occupational genetic monitoring. Using sterile brushes for ocular mucosa sampling, 20 volunteers were recruited from hospital and academic institutions, following strict ethical and clinical criteria. Samples were processed using a cytocentrifuge and stained with Giemsa, allowing morphological analysis under light microscopy. Despite challenges related to low cellularity, structural preservation was sufficient for the identification of micronuclei and other relevant nuclear abnormalities. The results indicate that the methodology is well tolerated, low-cost, technically simple, and feasible for large-scale application, particularly in clinical settings with limited infrastructure. Therefore, conjunctival mucosa may represent a promising matrix for occupational genotoxic screening, offering significant contributions to public health surveillance strategies and the prevention of cumulative genetic effects in exposed professionals.