title: Workers exposed to wood dust have an increased micronucleus frequency in nasal and buccal cells: results from a pilot study.
abstract: Wood dust is recognised as a human carcinogen, based on the strong association of wood dust exposure and the elevated risk of malignant tumours of the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses [sino-nasal cancer (SNC)]. The study aimed to assess genetic damage in workers exposed to wood dust using biomarkers in both buccal and nasal cells that reflect genome instability events, cellular proliferation and cell death frequencies. Nasal and buccal epithelial cells were collected from 31 parquet layers, installers, carpenters and furniture workers (exposed group) and 19 non-exposed workers located in Switzerland. Micronucleus (MN) frequencies were scored in nasal and buccal cells collected among woodworkers. Other nuclear anomalies in buccal cells were measured through the use of the buccal micronucleus cytome assay. MN frequencies in nasal and buccal cells were significantly higher in the exposed group compared to the non-exposed group; odds ratio for nasal cells 3.1 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.8-5.1] and buccal cells 1.8 (95% CI 1.3-2.4). The exposed group had higher frequencies of cells with nuclear buds, karyorrhectic, pyknotic, karyolytic cells and a decrease in the frequency of basal, binucleated and condensed cells compared to the non-exposed group. Our study confirms that woodworkers have an elevated risk for chromosomal instability in cells of the aerodigestive tract. The MN assay in nasal cells may become a relevant biomonitoring tool in the future for early detection of SNC risk. Future studies should seek to standardise the protocol for MN frequency in nasal cells similar to that for MN in buccal cells.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Work and Health (IST), Rue du Bugnon 21, CH-1011 Lausanne, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Evin Danisman
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Bruschweiler
authors.forename: Nancy B
authors.initials: NB
authors.lastname: Hopf
authors.forename: Pascal
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wild
authors.forename: Cong Khanh
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Huynh
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fenech
authors.forename: Philip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: Maryam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hor
authors.forename: Nicole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Charriere
authors.forename: Dessislava
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Savova-Bianchi
authors.forename: Brigitta
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Danuser
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D043171:Chromosomal Instability; D004391:Dust; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015162:Micronucleus Tests / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000473:pathology; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000473:pathology; D009669:Nose Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010255:Paranasal Sinus Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012307:Risk Factors; D013557:Switzerland; D014934:Wood / Q000009:adverse effects*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D004391:Dust