Urothelial cell DNA adducts in rubber workers.
Workers employed in the rubber industry appear to have a significant excess cancer risk in a variety of sites, including cancer of the urinary bladder. In this cross-sectional study, we investigated the occurrence of DNA adducts in exfoliated bladder cells of currently exposed, nonsmoking rubber workers (n = 52) and their relationship with occupational exposure estimates and acetylation phenotype (NAT2). Four DNA adducts were identified, with the proportion of positive samples (e.g., DNA samples with quantifiable levels of a specific DNA adduct) ranging from 3.8 to 79%. The highest proportion of positive samples and the highest relative adduct labeling levels were in workers involved in the production functions "mixing" and "curing," areas with potential for substantial exposure to a wide range of chemical compounds used in rubber manufacturing (P < 0.05 for adducts 2 and/or 3, compared to all other departments). No statistically significant relationships were found between identified DNA adducts and urinary mutagenicity or personal inhalable and dermal exposure estimates. Interestingly, subjects with a fast NAT2 acetylation phenotype tended to have higher levels of DNA adducts. This study suggests that rubber workers engaged in mixing and curing may be exposed to compounds that can form DNA adducts in urothelial cells. Larger studies among rubber workers should be conducted to study in more detail the potential carcinogenicity of exposures encountered in these work areas.
Environmental and Occupational Health Group, Institute of Risk Assessment Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands. vermeulr@mail.nih.gov
Roel
R
Vermeulen
Glenn
G
Talaska
Brenda
B
Schumann
Rob P
RP
Bos
Nathaniel
N
Rothman
Hans
H
Kromhout
D000107:Acetylation; D000328:Adult; D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000032:analysis; D001191:Arylamine N-Acetyltransferase / Q000235:genetics; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002617:Chemical Industry; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D018736:DNA Adducts / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009426:Netherlands; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010641:Phenotype; D011897:Random Allocation; D012307:Risk Factors; D012408:Rubber / Q000633:toxicity*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D019459:Urothelium / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000187:drug effects
D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D018736:DNA Adducts; D012408:Rubber; D001191:Arylamine N-Acetyltransferase; C478900:NAT2 protein, human