Slovakian glass fibre factory genotoxicity biomonitoring study – unsupported adverse outcome pathway (AOP) from the toxicology and human epidemiological experience of synthetic vitreous fibres (SVFs)

• Published in: Mutation research. Genetic toxicology and environmental mutagenesis 2024-05, Vol.896, p.503769, Article 503769
• Main Authors: Madl, Amy K., Keeton, Kara
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biological Monitoring - methods; DNA Damage - drug effects; Glass; Glass fibres; Humans; Man-made vitreous fibres; Mutagenicity Tests; Mutagens - toxicity; Occupational Exposure - adverse effects; Occupational Exposure - analysis; Slovakia - epidemiology; Synthetic vitreous fibres
• ISSN: 1383-5718; 1879-3592; 1879-3592
• DOI: 10.1016/j.mrgentox.2024.503769

The article by Ceppi and colleagues, Genotoxic Effects of Occupational Exposure to, Glass Fibres – A Human Biomonitoring Study, published in Mutation Research –Genetic Toxicology and Environmental Mutagenesis in 2023 was reviewed with great interest. The authors undertook a novel approach to conducting a biomonitoring study of genotoxicity markers among a population of glass fibre manufacturing workers in Slovakia. On the surface, the Ceppi et al. (2023) study provides an interesting application of genotoxicity markers among a human population of workers to explore potential markers of effect (DNA strand breaks) and potential risk of susceptibility (e.g., genetic damage, disease, death). However, limited data for exposure reconstruction, uncertain influences from smoking history, and lack of consideration of decades of human epidemiology research showing no increased risk of malignant or non-malignant respiratory disease and mortality among glass fibre manufacturing workers, reveals that the conclusions of the authors are overreaching and inconsistent with the existing science. The limitations of this study preclude the ability to draw causal inferences or conclusions about DNA strand breaks as a marker of exposure, effect, or susceptibility within this population of Slovakian glass fibre workers. Further longitudinal research is required (e.g., more robust temporal assessment of occupational exposures – fibres and other compounds – and smoking history) to support the study conclusions. •Decades of robust epidemiological research shows no increased risk of mortality or morbidity among SVF manufacturing workers.•The study conclusions are limited by issues with exposure characterization and potential confounding by smoking.•Longitudinal research is necessary to ascertain a causal relationship between low-level SVF exposures and DNA strand breaks.