DNA damage in lymphocytes of benzene exposed workers correlates with trans,trans-muconic acids and breath benzene levels.
Benzene causes many kinds of blood disorders in workers employed in many different environments. These diseases include myelodisplastic syndrome and acute and chronic myelocytic leukemia. In the present study, five occupational work places, including six industrial process types, namely, printing, shoe-making, methylene di-aniline (MDA), nitrobenzene, carbomer, and benzene production were selected, and the levels of breath benzene, and trans,trans-muconic acids (t,t-MA) and phenol in urine were evaluated, as well as hematological changes and lymphocyte DNA damage. The concentration of benzene in breath was less than 3 ppm in the workplaces, and benzene exposure was found to be higher in work places where benzene is used, than in those where benzene is produced. At low levels of benzene exposure, urinary t,t-MA correlated strongly with benzene in air. Highest Olive tail moments were found in workers producing carbomer. Levels of breathzone benzene were found to be strongly correlated with Olive tail moment values in the lymphocytes of workers, but not with hematological data in the six workplaces types. In conclusion, the highest benzene exposures found occurred in workers at a company, which utilized benzene in the production of carbomer. In terms of low levels of exposure to benzene, urinary t,t-MA and DNA damage exhibited a strong correlation with breath benzene, but not with hematological data. We conclude that breath benzene, t,t-MA and lymphocytic DNA damage are satisfactory biomonitoring markers with respect to benzene exposure in the workplace.
Sul
Donggeun
D
Environmental Toxico-Genomic and Proteomic Center, College of Medicine, Korea University, 5 anamdong Sungbukku, Seoul 136-701, Korea.
Lee
Eunil
E
Lee
Mi-Young
MY
Oh
Eunha
E
Im
Hosub
H
Lee
Joohyun
J
Jung
Woon-Won
WW
Won
Namhee
N
Kang
Hyung-Sik
HS
Kim
Eun-Mi
EM
Kang
Seong-Kyu
SK
D000328:Adult; D001554:Benzene / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*; D001944:Breath Tests; D020552:Comet Assay; D004249:DNA Damage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D013011:Sorbic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000032:analysis*
C005939:muconic acid; D001554:Benzene; D013011:Sorbic Acid