[Genetic damage in peripheral blood lymphocyte of coke oven workers].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate DNA and chromosome damage in peripheral blood lymphocyte of coke oven workers exposed to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs).


METHODS
One hundred and thirty-seven coke oven workers and 50 controls without occupational PAHs exposure were investigated. Comet assay and cytokinesis-block micronucleus (CBMN) detection were used to evaluate DNA and chromosomal damage levels in peripheral blood lymphocyte. Urinary 1-hydroxypyrene level was used to assess the personal internal PAHs exposure dose. Personal information including occupational history, age, sex, smoking and drinking status was collected by questionnaire.


RESULTS
Urinary 1-hydroxypyrene level in coke oven workers [(5.76 +/- 1.04) micro mol/mol Cr] was significantly higher than that in controls [(0.70 +/- 0.32) micro mol/mol Cr]. The rate of CBMN and comet tail moment of lymphocyte in coke oven workers [8.0 per thousand (0.0 per thousand - 30.0 per thousand ) and 2.09 (0.31 - 75.41), respectively] were higher than those in controls [3.5 per thousand (0.0 per thousand - 13.0 per thousand ) and 1.05 (0.11 - 6.63), P < 0.05]. In controls, the comet moment in smokers was significantly higher than that in non-smokers [1.44 (0.23 - 6.63) vs 0.81 (0.11 - 3.47), P < 0.05]. According to the length of work, 137 coke oven workers were classified into 3 groups i.e. 0.5 yrs , 16.0 yrs and 22.0 yrs group, and the comet moments were 1.34 (0.31 - 37.84), 2.32 (0.49 - 52.97) and 3.20 (0.45 - 75.41) respectively after adjusting the age, sex, smoking, drinking and level of urinary 1-hydroxy-pyrene. There was a rising tendency along with the increase in length of work.


CONCLUSIONS
Under present PAHs exposure levels, both comet assay and Cytokinesis-block micronucleus test could detect PAHs-induced genotoxicity in coke oven workers, and comet assay is more suitable to assess the cumulative damage effect on DNA.
Leng
Shu-guang
SG
National Institute of Occupational Health and Poison Control, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 100050, China.
Zheng
Yu-xin
YX
Zhang
Wen-zhong
WZ
Dai
Yu-fei
YF
Niu
Yong
Y
Wang
Ya-wen
YW
Gu
Ye-ping
YP
Pan
Zu-fei
ZF
Xiao
Jun
J
Wang
Zhong-xu
ZX
Li
Tao
T
He
Feng-sheng
FS
D000328:Adult; D003077:Coke; D020552:Comet Assay; D004249:DNA Damage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000032:analysis*; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000506:poisoning*; D011721:Pyrenes / Q000032:analysis; D013997:Time Factors
D003077:Coke; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; D011721:Pyrenes; C033146:1-hydroxypyrene