title: Cytogenetic and immunological effects associated with occupational formaldehyde exposure.
abstract: Formaldehyde (FA) is a widely used industrial chemical for which exposure is associated with nasopharyngeal and sinonasal cancer. Based on sufficient evidence of carcinogenicity from human investigations, supporting studies on mechanisms underlying carcinogenesis, and experimental evidence in animals, FA status was recently revised and reclassified as a human carcinogen. The highest level of exposure to FA occurs in occupational settings. Although several studies reported FA ability to induce genotoxic responses in exposed workers, not all findings were conclusive. In addition, published studies on the immunological effects of FA indicate that this compound may be able to modulate immune responses, although data in exposed subjects are still preliminary. In this study a group of pathology anatomy workers exposed to FA was evaluated for cytogenetic and immunological parameters. A control group with similar sociodemographic characteristics and without known occupational exposure to FA was also included. Genotoxicity was evaluated by means of micronucleus (MN) test, sister chromatid exchanges (SCE), and T-cell receptor (TCR) mutation assay. Percentages of different lymphocyte subpopulations were selected as immunotoxic biomarkers. The mean level of FA environmental exposure was 0.36 ± 0.03 ppm. MN and SCE frequencies were significantly increased in the exposed group. A significant decrease of the percentage of B cells in the exposed group was also found. Data obtained in this study indicate that genotoxic and immunotoxic increased risk due to FA occupational exposure cannot be excluded. Implementation of effective control measures along with hazard prevention campaigns may be crucial to decrease the risk.
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Health , Environmental Health Department, Porto, Portugal. solange.costa2@gmail.com
authors.forename: Solange
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: García-Lestón
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Coelho
authors.forename: Patrícia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Coelho
authors.forename: Carla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.forename: Susana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: Beatriz
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Porto
authors.forename: Blanca
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Laffon
authors.forename: João Paulo
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Teixeira
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*; D001399:Azure Stains; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005260:Female; D005404:Fixatives / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D005557:Formaldehyde / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*; D006801:Humans; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D015162:Micronucleus Tests; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D008875:Middle Aged; D009154:Mutation; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D010337:Pathology Department, Hospital; D011174:Portugal; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / Q000378:metabolism; D012854:Sister Chromatid Exchange; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D001399:Azure Stains; D005404:Fixatives; D011948:Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell; D005557:Formaldehyde