Assessment of DNA Damage in WBCs of Workers Occupationally Exposed to Fumes and Aerosols of Bitumen

• Published in: Cancer epidemiology, biomarkers & prevention biomarkers & prevention, 2006-04, Vol.15 (4), p.645-651
• Main Authors: MARCZYNSKI, Boleslaw, RAULF-HEIMSOTH, Monika, KÄFFERLEIN, Heiko U, BRÜNING, Thomas, PREUSS, Ralf, KAPPLER, Martin, SCHOTT, Klaus, PESCH, Beate, ZOUBEK, Gerd, HAHN, Jens-Uwe, MENSING, Thomas, ANGERER, Jürgen
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aerosols - adverse effects; Aerosols - analysis; Air Pollutants, Occupational - adverse effects; Air Pollutants, Occupational - analysis; Airborne monitoring; Biological and medical sciences; Biomarkers; Biomarkers - blood; Biomarkers - urine; Bitumen; Carcinogenesis, carcinogens and anticarcinogens; Chemical agents; Cross-Sectional Studies; Cross-shift design; DNA Adducts - drug effects; DNA damage; DNA Damage - drug effects; Environmental Monitoring - methods; Gases - adverse effects; Gases - analysis; Germany; Humans; Hydrocarbons - adverse effects; Leukocytes - drug effects; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Mutagenicity Tests; Mutagens; Occupational Exposure - adverse effects; Phenanthrenes - blood; Phenanthrenes - urine; Pyridines - blood; Pyridines - urine; Risk Assessment; Tumors
• ISSN: 1055-9965; 1538-7755
• DOI: 10.1158/1055-9965.EPI-05-0562

We conducted a cross-shift study with 66 bitumen-exposed mastic asphalt workers and 49 construction workers without exposure to bitumen. Exposure was assessed using personal monitoring of airborne bitumen exposure, urinary 1-hydroxypyrene (1-OHP), and the sum of 1-, 2 + 9–,3-,4-hydroxyphenanthrene (OHPH). Genotoxic effects in WBC were determined with nonspecific DNA adduct levels of 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2′-deoxyguanosine (8-oxodGuo) and the formation of DNA strand breaks and alkali-labile sites. Concentration of fumes and aerosols of bitumen correlated significantly with the concentrations of 1-OHP and OHPH after shift ( r s = 0.27; P = 0.03 and r s = 0.55; P < 0.0001, respectively). Bitumen-exposed workers had more DNA strand breaks than the reference group ( P < 0.0001) at both time points and a significant correlation with 1-OHP and OHPH in the postshift urines ( r s = 0.32; P = 0.001 and r s = 0.27; P = 0.004, respectively). Paradoxically, we measured higher levels of DNA strand breaks, although not significant, in both study groups before shift. 8-OxodGuo adduct levels did not correlate with DNA strand breaks. Further, 8-oxodGuo levels were associated neither with personal exposure to bitumen nor with urinary metabolite concentrations. Significantly more DNA adducts were observed after shift not only in bitumen-exposed workers but also in the reference group. Only low-exposed workers had significantly elevated 8-oxodGuo adduct levels before as well as after shift ( P = 0.0002 and P = 0.02, respectively). Our results show that exposure to fumes and aerosols of bitumen may contribute to an increased DNA damage assessed with strand breaks. (Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2006;15(4):645–51)