title: Urinary levels of thymine dimer as a biomarker of exposure to ultraviolet radiation in humans during outdoor activities in the summer.
abstract: The incidence of skin cancer is rising rapidly in many countries, presumably due to increased leisure time exposure to solar ultraviolet radiation (UVR). UVR causes DNA lesions, such as the thymine dimer (T=T), which have been causatively linked to the development of skin cancer. T=T is clearly detectable in urine and may, thereby, be a potentially valuable biomarker of UVR exposure. The objective of this study was to evaluate the relationship between UVR exposure and urinary levels of T=T in a field study involving outdoor workers. Daily ambient and personal exposure of 52 beach lifeguards and agricultural workers to UVR were determined (employing 656 personal polysulphone dosimeters). In 22 of these subjects, daily urinary T=T levels (120 samples) were measured, the area of skin exposed calculated and associations assessed utilizing mixed statistical models. The average daily UVR dose was approximately 600 J/m(2) (7.7 standard erythemal doses), i.e. about 20% of ambient UVR. T=T levels were correlated to UVR dose, increasing by about 6 fmol/µmol creatinine for each 100 J/m(2) increase in dose (average of the three preceding days). This is the first demonstration of a relationship between occupational UVR exposure and urinary levels of a biomarker of DNA damage. On a population level, urinary levels of T=T can be used as a biomarker for UVR exposure in the field.
authors: Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institute, Novum, SE-141 83 Huddinge, Sweden. tove.sandberg@ki.se
authors: Tove Sandberg
authors: TS
authors: Liljendahl
authors: Anna
authors: A
authors: Blomqvist
authors: Eva M
authors: EM
authors: Andersson
authors: Lars
authors: L
authors: Barregard
authors: Dan
authors: D
authors: Segerbäck
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000652:urine; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011740:Pyrimidine Dimers / Q000652:urine*; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D012621:Seasons; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology; D013472:Sunlight / Q000009:adverse effects; D013997:Time Factors; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays / Q000009:adverse effects; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D011740:Pyrimidine Dimers