Chromosome aberration and lipid peroxidation in chromium-exposed workers.
Chromosome aberration frequency and lipid peroxidation levels were analyzed to investigate their efficacy as biological markers for monitoring the genotoxicity and oxidative damage in Korean chromium (Cr)-exposed workers. Fifty-one Cr-exposed workers and 31 age-matched controls in ten chrome-plating plants were sampled. The Cr level was measured in the workers' blood and urine, and in the ambient air at the workplaces. The conventional Giemsa staining method and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) technique were used for chromosome aberration analysis. Spectrum green whole chromosome paint specific for chromosome 4 was used in the FISH procedure. As for lipid peroxidation, malondialdehyde (MDA) was measured in the blood plasma as thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS). The blood Cr concentration was statistically correlated with both the frequency of chromatid exchange and the total frequency of chromosome/chromatid breaks and exchanges, as detected by the Giemsa staining. Meanwhile, the frequency of translocation, as detected by the FISH technique, was significantly higher in the Cr-exposed workers than in the controls and it correlated with the blood Cr concentration. Although the concentration of MDA, the metabolite of lipid peroxidation, in the exposed workers was higher than that of the controls, no statistically significant correlation between the MDA level and the blood or urine Cr levels was observed. Accordingly, the genotoxicity and oxidative damage (plasma lipid peroxidation) in the Korean Cr-exposed workers were consequential at quite low exposure levels, plus chromosome rearrangement, especially translocation, was clearly evident as a biological response marker for Cr exposure based on a significant positive correlation between the translocations detected by FISH and the Cr in the blood.
Maeng
S H
SH
Center for Occupational Toxicology, Occupational Safety & Health Research Institute, Korea Occupational Safety & Health Agency, 104-8 Munji-dong, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 305-380, Korea.
Chung
H W
HW
Kim
K J
KJ
Lee
B M
BM
Shin
Y C
YC
Kim
S J
SJ
Yu
I J
IJ
D000328:Adult; D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D001399:Azure Stains; D015415:Biomarkers; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002857:Chromium / Q000097:blood* / Q000633:toxicity* / Q000652:urine; D002869:Chromosome Aberrations; D020223:Chromosome Painting; D002875:Chromosomes / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002894:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 4 / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006801:Humans; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; D007723:Korea; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000378:metabolism; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D012907:Smoking; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances; D013997:Time Factors
D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D001399:Azure Stains; D015415:Biomarkers; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances; D002857:Chromium; D008315:Malondialdehyde