title: Investigation of some immunological functions in a group of asphalt workers exposed to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.
abstract: To investigate the effects of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) on the human immune system, analyses were performed on T-cell subsets (CD4+, CD8+), B-cells (CD19+), serum immunoglobulin levels (IgG, IgM, IgA) and white blood cell percentages of 16 male workers who were employed in road paving operations and compared to 12 unexposed male controls. PAH exposure was assessed using urinary 1-hydroxy-pyrene (1-OHP) levels and was found to be significantly higher in workers than in the controls. While the CD4+ cell percentage and the CD4+/CD8+ ratio were significantly higher in the PAH-exposed group, the percentages of CD8+ and CD19+ cells were unchanged. There was also a significant enhancement in serum IgG levels and the percentage of monocytes in the workers compared to the control group. These data suggest that chronic exposure to PAHs may affect some immune functions in humans.
authors.affiliation: Department of Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Ankara University, Turkey. karakaya@io.pharmacy.ankara.edu.tr
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Karakaya
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Yücesoy
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Turhan
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Erdem
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Burgaz
authors.forename: A E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Karakaya
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D006801:Humans; D006838:Hydrocarbons / Q000009:adverse effects*; D007107:Immune System / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D007958:Leukocyte Count / Q000187:drug effects; D016131:Lymphocyte Subsets / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011721:Pyrenes / Q000378:metabolism; D012907:Smoking; D013223:Statistics as Topic
chemical_list: D006838:Hydrocarbons; D007136:Immunoglobulins; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; D011721:Pyrenes; C006647:asphalt; C033146:1-hydroxypyrene