title: Genetic and oxidative damage of peripheral blood lymphocytes in workers with occupational exposure to coal.
abstract: Coal is an important fossil fuel used to generate energy. Coal dust is constituted primarily of hydrocarbons and metals. During coal extraction, large quantities of coal dust particles are emitted, contributing to environmental pollution. Coal miners are constantly exposed to coal dust and its derivatives. The goal of this study was to evaluate the potential genotoxic effects of coal and oxidative stress in individuals from Candiota who were exposed to coal as part of their occupation. The comet assay and micronucleus (MN) test were used to assess these effects. This study involved 128 male participants of whom 71 reported work that included exposure to coal (exposed group) and 57 reported working at different jobs (unexposed group). The exposed group had a significantly increased damage index and damage frequency, as assessed using the comet assay, and increased MN and nucleoplasmic bridge frequencies, as assessed using the MN assay, compared with unexposed individuals. Significant and positive correlations between MN frequencies in the lymphocytes and buccal cells of control and exposed individuals were observed. The exposed individuals presented lower average levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and catalase activity (CAT), while the mean superoxide dismutase activity (SOD) levels were higher in this group. The exposed group also had higher hematocrit levels. No correlation between DNA damage and inorganic elements, as identified using PIXE, was found; however, there was a correlation between the damage index and zinc. The evidence that exposure to coal and its derivatives presents a genetic hazard demonstrates the need for protective measures and educational programs for coal miners.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Immunogenetics, Postgraduate Program in Genetics and Molecular Biology (PPGBM), Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Cardiology, Cardiology Institute of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Paula
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rohr
authors.forename: Kátia
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kvitko
authors.forename: Fernanda R
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: da Silva
authors.forename: Ana Paula Simões
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Menezes
authors.forename: Carem
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Porto
authors.forename: Merielen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sarmento
authors.forename: Natália
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Decker
authors.forename: Juliana M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Reyes
authors.forename: Mariangela da C
authors.initials: Mda C
authors.lastname: Allgayer
authors.forename: Tatiane Chao
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Furtado
authors.forename: Mirian
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Salvador
authors.forename: Catia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Branco
authors.forename: Juliana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: da Silva
mesh_terms: D003031:Coal; D003032:Coal Mining; D020552:Comet Assay; D006801:Humans; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D018384:Oxidative Stress
chemical_list: D003031:Coal
keywords: Coal; Comet assay; Micronucleus; Occupational exposure; Oxidative stress