Cashew nut roasting: chemical characterization of particulate matter and genotocixity analysis.
BACKGROUND
Particulate matter (PM) is potentially harmful to health and related to genotoxic events, an increase in the number of hospitalizations and mortality from respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. The present study conducted the first characterization of elemental composition and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) analysis of PM, as well as the biomonitoring of genotoxic activity associated to artisanal cashew nut roasting, an important economic and social activity worldwide.


METHODS
The levels of PM2.5 and black carbon were also measured by gravimetric analysis and light reflectance. The elemental composition was determined using X-ray fluorescence spectrometry and PAH analysis was carried out by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Genotoxic activity was measured by the Tradescantia pallida micronucleus bioassay (Trad-MCN). Other biomarkers of DNA damage, such as nucleoplasmic bridges and nuclear fragments, were also quantified.


RESULTS
The mean amount of PM2.5 accumulated in the filters (January 2124.2 µg/m(3); May 1022.2 µg/m(3); September 1291.9 µg/m(3)), black carbon (January 363.6 µg/m(3); May 70 µg/m(3); September 69.4 µg/m(3)) and concentrations of Al, Si, P, S, Cl, K, Ca, Ti, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, Se, Br and Pb were significantly higher than the non-exposed area. Biomass burning tracers K, Cl, and S were the major inorganic compounds found. Benzo[k]fluoranthene, indene[1,2,3-c,d]pyrene, benzo[ghi]perylene, phenanthrene and benzo[b]fluoranthene were the most abundant PAHs. Mean benzo[a]pyrene-equivalent carcinogenic power values showed a significant cancer risk. The Trad-MCN bioassay revealed an increase in micronucleus frequency, 2-7 times higher than the negative control and significantly higher in all the months analyzed, possibly related to the mutagenic PAHs found.


CONCLUSIONS
This study demonstrated that artisanal cashew nut roasting is a serious occupational problem, with harmful effects on workers׳ health. Those involved in this activity are exposed to higher PM2.5 concentrations and to 12 PAHs considered potentially mutagenic and/or carcinogenic. The Trad-MCN with T. pallida was sensitive and efficient in evaluating the genotoxicity of the components and other nuclear alterations may be used as effective biomarkers of DNA damage.
Programa de Pós-Graduação em Bioquímica, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, Brazil.
Marcos Felipe de Oliveira
MF
Galvão
Departamento de Patologia, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Thiago de Melo
Tde M
Cabral
Departamento de Patologia, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Paulo Afonso
PA
de André
Departamento de Ciências Atmosféricas, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Maria de Fátima
Mde F
Andrade
Departamento de Ciências Atmosféricas, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Regina Maura
RM
de Miranda
Departamento de Patologia, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Paulo Hilário Nascimento
PH
Saldiva
Instituto de Química, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Pérola de Castro
Pde C
Vasconcellos
Departamento de Biologia Celular e Genética, CB - UFRN, Centro de Biociências, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Campus Universitário, Lagoa Nova, 59072-970, Natal, RN, Brazil. Electronic address: sbatistu@cb.ufrn.br.
Silvia Regina Batistuzzo
SR
de Medeiros
D031021:Anacardium; D001938:Brazil; D003296:Cooking; D015162:Micronucleus Tests; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000032:analysis*; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000737:chemistry*; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000032:analysis*; D034823:Tradescantia
D052638:Particulate Matter; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons
Cashew nut roasting; Genotoxicity; Micronucleus assay; Particulate matter; Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons