title: Oxidative DNA damage and influence of genetic polymorphisms among urban and rural schoolchildren exposed to benzene.
abstract: Traffic related urban air pollution is a major environmental health problem in many large cities. Children living in urban areas are exposed to benzene and other toxic pollutants simultaneously on a regular basis. Assessment of benzene exposure and oxidative DNA damage in schoolchildren in Bangkok compared with the rural schoolchildren was studied through the use of biomarkers. Benzene levels in ambient air at the roadside adjacent to Bangkok schools was 3.95-fold greater than that of rural school areas. Personal exposure to benzene in Bangkok schoolchildren was 3.04-fold higher than that in the rural schoolchildren. Blood benzene, urinary benzene and urinary muconic acid (MA) levels were significantly higher in the Bangkok schoolchildren. A significantly higher level of 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) in leukocytes and in urine was found in Bangkok children than in the rural children. There was a significant correlation between individual benzene exposure level and blood benzene (rs=0.193, P<0.05), urinary benzene (rs=0.298, P<0.05), urinary MA (rs=0.348, P<0.01), and 8-OHdG in leukocyte (rs=0.130, P<0.05). In addition, a significant correlation between urinary MA and 8-OHdG in leukocytes (rs=0.241, P<0.05) was also found. Polymorphisms of various xenobiotic metabolizing genes responsible for susceptibility to benzene toxicity have been studied; however only the GSTM1 genotypes had a significant effect on urinary MA excretion. Our data indicates that children living in the areas of high traffic density are exposed to a higher level of benzene than those living in rural areas. Exposure to higher level of benzene in urban children may contribute to oxidative DNA damage, suggesting an increased health risk from traffic benzene emission.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology, Chulabhorn Research Institute, Vipavadee Rangsit Highway, Lak Si, Donmuang, Bangkok 10210, Thailand.
authors.forename: Nantaporn
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Buthbumrung
authors.forename: Chulabhorn
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mahidol
authors.forename: Panida
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Navasumrit
authors.forename: Jeerawan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Promvijit
authors.forename: Potchanee
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hunsonti
authors.forename: Herman
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Autrup
authors.forename: Mathuros
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ruchirawat
mesh_terms: D000080242:8-Hydroxy-2'-Deoxyguanosine; D000293:Adolescent; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000633:toxicity*; D001483:Base Sequence; D001554:Benzene / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*; D002648:Child; D002947:Cities; D004249:DNA Damage / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D003849:Deoxyguanosine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D062665:Epidemiological Monitoring; D006801:Humans; D019570:Inhalation Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012424:Rural Population; D013011:Sorbic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity; D013785:Thailand / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; C005939:muconic acid; D000080242:8-Hydroxy-2'-Deoxyguanosine; D003849:Deoxyguanosine; D001554:Benzene; D013011:Sorbic Acid