DNA damage and susceptibility assessment in industrial workers exposed to styrene.
Styrene is a widely used chemical in the manufacture of synthetic rubber, resins, polyesters, and plastics. The highest levels of human exposure to styrene occur during the production of reinforced plastic products. The objective of this study was to examine occupational exposure to styrene in a multistage approach, in order to integrate the following endpoints: styrene in workplace air, mandelic and phenylglyoxylic acids (MA + PGA) in urine, sister chromatid exchanges (SCE), micronuclei (MN), DNA damage (comet assay), and genetic polymorphisms of metabolizing enzymes (CYP2E1, EPHX1, GSTM1, GSTT1, and GSTP1). Seventy-five workers from a fiberglass-reinforced plastics factory and 77 unexposed controls took part in the study. The mean air concentration of styrene in the breathing zone of workers (30.4 ppm) and the mean concentration of urinary metabolites (MA + PGA = 443 ± 44 mg/g creatinine) exceeded the threshold limit value (TLV) and the biological exposure index (BEI). Significantly higher SCE frequency rate and DNA damage were observed in exposed workers, but MN frequency was not markedly modified by exposure. With respect to the effect of genetic polymorphisms on different exposure and effect biomarkers studied, an increase in SCE levels with elevated microsomal epoxide hydrolase activity was noted in exposed workers, suggesting a possible exposure-genotype interaction.
Portuguese National Institute of Health, Environmental Health Department, Porto, Portugal. cstcosta@gmail.com
Carla
C
Costa
Solange
S
Costa
Susana
S
Silva
Patrícia
P
Coelho
Mónica
M
Botelho
Jorge
J
Gaspar
José
J
Rueff
Blanca
B
Laffon
João Paulo
JP
Teixeira
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000652:urine; D004249:DNA Damage; D004851:Epoxide Hydrolases / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D056726:Genetic Association Studies; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006038:Glyoxylates / Q000652:urine; D006801:Humans; D007221:Industry; D008297:Male; D008333:Mandelic Acids / Q000652:urine; D008875:Middle Aged; D009153:Mutagens / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000652:urine; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D011174:Portugal; D012854:Sister Chromatid Exchange / Q000187:drug effects; D020058:Styrene / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*; D017132:Workplace; D055815:Young Adult
D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D015415:Biomarkers; D006038:Glyoxylates; D008333:Mandelic Acids; D009153:Mutagens; C012482:phenylglyoxylic acid; D020058:Styrene; D004851:Epoxide Hydrolases; C522330:EPHX1 protein, human; C037938:mandelic acid