[Association between telomere length and occupational polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons exposure].
OBJECTIVE
To explore the association between polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) exposure and telomere length (TL), so as to investigate the effective biomarkers to evaluate the genetic damage in peripheral blood of workers exposed to PAHs.


METHODS
The exposure group consisted of 145 coke-oven workers (including 30 top-oven workers, 76 side-oven workers and 39 bottom-oven workers), and the non-exposure control group comprised 68 medical staffs. At 6 hours after the weekend duty shift, the samples of urine and 1 ml venous blood were collected from each subject. Airborne benzene-soluble matter (BSM) and particulate-phase B(a)P in the working environment of coke-oven and controls were sampled and analyzed. The concentration of urinary 1-hydroxypyrene (1-OHPyr) was determined. A real-time PCR method was used to determine the relative telomere length (RTL) of genomic DNA in peripheral blood. The relationship between the RTL and external exposure of PAHs, the potential factors which might have influence on TL were analyzed.


RESULTS
The medians of air BSM and particulate-phase B(a)P were higher in coke-oven (BSM: 328.6 µg/m(3); B(a)P: 926.9 ng/m(3)) than those in control working environment (BSM:97.8 µg/m(3); B(a)P: 49.1 ng/m(3)). The level of 1-OHPyr among coke-oven workers was significantly higher than that of non-exposed group (12.2 µmol/mol Cr vs 0.7 µmol/mol Cr; t = 26.971, P < 0.01). RTL in coke-oven workers were significantly shorter than those of controls (1.10 ± 0.75 vs 1.43 ± 1.06; t = 2.263, P = 0.026), and after adjusting for cigarettes per day and urinary 1-OHPyr, the significant difference was still observed (F(adju) = 5.496, P(adju) = 0.020). Stratification analysis found that RTL among the male and non-drinking groups in coke-oven workers were shorter than those the same sex and alcohol using status in controls (1.08 ± 0.73 vs 1.51 ± 1.10, F = 9.212, P = 0.003; 0.96 ± 0.38 vs 1.26 ± 0.46, F = 6.484, P = 0.012). Significant correlation between RTL and age was found (r = -0.284, P = 0.019) in non-exposure group.


CONCLUSIONS
PAH-exposure has effect on TL of genomic DNA in peripheral blood, which is mainly observed in the male and non-drinking groups between PAH-exposed workers and controls. It indicates that TL of genomic DNA in peripheral blood might be an effective biomarker as PAH-induced genetic damage.
National Institute of Occupational Health and Poison Control, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 100050, China.
Ping
P
Bin
Shu-guang
SG
Leng
Juan
J
Cheng
Zu-fei
ZF
Pan
Hua-wei
HW
Duan
Yu-fei
YF
Dai
Hai-shan
HS
Li
Yong
Y
Niu
Qing-jun
QJ
Liu
Qing
Q
Liu
Yu-xin
YX
Zheng
D000328:Adult; D001554:Benzene; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003077:Coke; D004249:DNA Damage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D011721:Pyrenes / Q000032:analysis; D016615:Telomere / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics
D003077:Coke; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; D011721:Pyrenes; D001554:Benzene; C033146:1-hydroxypyrene