title: Assessment of DNA damage in WBCs of workers occupationally exposed to fumes and aerosols of bitumen.
abstract: We conducted a cross-shift study with 66 bitumen-exposed mastic asphalt workers and 49 construction workers without exposure to bitumen. Exposure was assessed using personal monitoring of airborne bitumen exposure, urinary 1-hydroxypyrene (1-OHP), and the sum of 1-, 2 + 9-,3-,4-hydroxyphenanthrene (OHPH). Genotoxic effects in WBC were determined with nonspecific DNA adduct levels of 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-oxodGuo) and the formation of DNA strand breaks and alkali-labile sites. Concentration of fumes and aerosols of bitumen correlated significantly with the concentrations of 1-OHP and OHPH after shift (r(s) = 0.27; P = 0.03 and r(s) = 0.55; P < 0.0001, respectively). Bitumen-exposed workers had more DNA strand breaks than the reference group (P < 0.0001) at both time points and a significant correlation with 1-OHP and OHPH in the postshift urines (r(s) = 0.32; P = 0.001 and r(s) = 0.27; P = 0.004, respectively). Paradoxically, we measured higher levels of DNA strand breaks, although not significant, in both study groups before shift. 8-OxodGuo adduct levels did not correlate with DNA strand breaks. Further, 8-oxodGuo levels were associated neither with personal exposure to bitumen nor with urinary metabolite concentrations. Significantly more DNA adducts were observed after shift not only in bitumen-exposed workers but also in the reference group. Only low-exposed workers had significantly elevated 8-oxodGuo adduct levels before as well as after shift (P = 0.0002 and P = 0.02, respectively). Our results show that exposure to fumes and aerosols of bitumen may contribute to an increased DNA damage assessed with strand breaks.
authors.affiliation: Research Institute of Occupational Medicine (BGFA), Ruhr-University of Bochum, Germany. marczynski@bgfa.ruhr-uni-bochum.de
authors.forename: Boleslaw
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Marczynski
authors.forename: Monika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Raulf-Heimsoth
authors.forename: Ralf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Preuss
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kappler
authors.forename: Klaus
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Schott
authors.forename: Beate
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Pesch
authors.forename: Gerd
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zoubek
authors.forename: Jens-Uwe
authors.initials: JU
authors.lastname: Hahn
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mensing
authors.forename: Jürgen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Angerer
authors.forename: Heiko U
authors.initials: HU
authors.lastname: Käfferlein
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Brüning
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000336:Aerosols / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D018736:DNA Adducts / Q000187:drug effects; D004249:DNA Damage / Q000187:drug effects*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D005740:Gases / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D006838:Hydrocarbons / Q000009:adverse effects*; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009152:Mutagenicity Tests; D009153:Mutagens; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010616:Phenanthrenes / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D011725:Pyridines / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D018570:Risk Assessment
chemical_list: D000336:Aerosols; D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D015415:Biomarkers; D018736:DNA Adducts; D005740:Gases; D006838:Hydrocarbons; D009153:Mutagens; D010616:Phenanthrenes; D011725:Pyridines; C014047:hydroxypyridines; C031181:phenanthrene; C006647:asphalt