Circulating lead modifies hexavalent chromium-induced genetic damage in a chromate-exposed population: An epidemiological study

• Published in: The Science of the total environment 2021-01, Vol.752, p.141824-141824, Article 141824
• Main Authors: Hu, Guiping, Long, Changmao, Hu, Lihua, Xu, Benjamin Ping, Chen, Tian, Gao, Xiaoyin, Zhang, Yali, Zheng, Pai, Wang, Li, Wang, Tiancheng, Yan, Lailai, Yu, Shanfa, Zhong, Lijun, Chen, Wei, Jia, Guang
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Chromate; Circulating Pb; Genetic damage; Modification effects; Occupational workers
• ISSN: 0048-9697; 1879-1026
• DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.141824

Chromium (Cr) can coexist with other heavy metals in the blood of chronically chromate-exposed individuals. However, few studies have explored the health impacts of other hazardous metals after exposure to hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)]. This study aimed to assess the modification effects of blood lead (Pb) on the genetic damage induced by Cr(VI). During 2010–2019, 1000 blood samples were collected from 455 workers exposed to chromate and 545 workers not exposed to chromate from the same factory with similar labor intensity. The levels of Cr and Pb were measured in whole blood samples. Micronucleus frequency (MNF) and urinary 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) were measured to reflect different types of genetic damage. Multivariate linear regression analyses were performed to evaluate the associations between hazardous metals and the modification effects of Pb on genetic damage. The geometric mean levels of Cr and Pb in the exposure group were significantly higher than those in the control group [Cr: 6.42 (6.08– 6.79) vs. 1.29 (1.22– 1.36) μg/L; Pb: 38.82 (37.22– 40.50) vs. 34.47 (33.15– 35.85) μg/L]. The geometric means of urinary 8-OHdG and MNF in exposure group were 4.00 (3.64– 4.40) μg/g and 5.40 (4.89– 5.97) ‰, respectively, significantly higher than the 3.20 (2.94– 3.48) μg/g and 4.57 (4.15– 5.03) ‰, respectively, in control group. log2Cr was independently and positively associated with urinary 8-OHdG (β-adjusted = 0.143, 95% CI: 0.082– 0.204) and MNF (β-adjusted = 0.303, 95%CI: 0.020– 0.587). With the change in circulating Pb levels, the types of genetic damage induced by Cr(VI) were different. At low levels of circulating Pb (