Association between plasma BPDE-Alb adduct concentrations and DNA damage of peripheral blood lymphocytes among coke oven workers.
OBJECTIVE
Coke oven emissions (COE) containing polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) can induce both benzo[a]pyrene-r-7, t-8, t-9,c-10-tetrahydotetrol-albumin (BPDE-Alb) adducts and DNA damage. However, the relation between these biomarkers for early biological effects is not well documented in coke oven workers.


METHODS
In this study, the authors recruited 207 male workers exposed to COE and 102 controls not exposed to COE in the same steel plant in northern China. They measured BPDE-Alb adduct concentrations in plasma with reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography and DNA damage in peripheral blood lymphocytes with alkaline comet assay.


RESULTS
The results showed that the median concentration of BPDE-Alb adducts in the exposed group (34.36 fmol/mg albumin) was significantly higher than that in the control group (21.90 fmol/mg albumin, p = 0.012). The mean Olive tail moment (Olive TM) of DNA damage in the exposed and control groups were 1.20 and 0.63, respectively (p = 0.000). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that the odds ratio (OR) for BPDE-Alb adduct and Olive TM associated with the exposure were 1.72 (95% CI 1.06 to 2.81) and 1.96 (95% CI 1.20 to 3.19), respectively. These results show significant correlations between the concentrations of BPDE-Alb adduct and Olive TM levels in exposed group (r = 0.235, p = 0.001) but not in control group (r = 0.093, p = 0.353).


CONCLUSIONS
The results suggest that occupational exposure to COE may induce both BPDE-Alb adducts and DNA damage in the lymphocytes of coke oven workers and that these two markers are useful for monitoring exposure to COE in the workplace.
Wang
Hong
H
Institute of Occupational Medicine and The Ministry of Education Key Lab for Environment and Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
Chen
Weihong
W
Zheng
Hongyan
H
Guo
Liang
L
Liang
Huashan
H
Yang
Xiaobo
X
Bai
Yun
Y
Sun
Jianya
J
Su
Yougong
Y
Chen
Yongwen
Y
Yuan
Jing
J
Bi
Yongyi
Y
Wei
Qingyi
Q
Wu
Tangchun
T
D015123:7,8-Dihydro-7,8-dihydroxybenzo(a)pyrene 9,10-oxide / Q000032:analysis*; D000328:Adult; D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000633:toxicity; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002681:China; D002853:Chromatography, Liquid; D003077:Coke / Q000633:toxicity*; D020552:Comet Assay; D018736:DNA Adducts / Q000097:blood*; D004249:DNA Damage; D019652:Extraction and Processing Industry; D006801:Humans; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000737:chemistry*; D008297:Male; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000633:toxicity; D012307:Risk Factors; D013232:Steel
D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D003077:Coke; D018736:DNA Adducts; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; D013232:Steel; D015123:7,8-Dihydro-7,8-dihydroxybenzo(a)pyrene 9,10-oxide