title: Evaluation of genotoxicity in workers exposed to benzene and atmospheric pollutants.
abstract: Gas station attendants and taxi drivers are occupationally exposed to xenobiotics which may be harmful to their health. Atmospheric pollutants and benzene can lead to DNA damage. Genotoxicity and mutagenicity assays can be used to evaluate the effects of these pollutants. We have evaluated genotoxicity and mutagenicity in workers occupationally exposed to xenobiotics, by application of the 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), comet, and micronucleus (MN) assays. Biomarkers of benzene and carbon monoxyde exposure were also measured: urinary t,t-muconic acid (t,t-MA) and carboxyhaemoglobin (COHb) in whole blood, respectively. The study groups comprised 43 gas station attendants (GSA), 34 taxi drivers (TD), and 22 persons without known occupational exposures (NE). Levels of t,t-MA in the GSA group were significantly elevated compared to the NE group (p<0.001), however these levels were below of levels established by ACGIH (American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists). COHb levels were not significantly different between the TD and NE groups (p>0.05). DNA damage index (DI) and 8-OHdG levels were significantly higher for both the GSA and TD groups, compared to the NE group (p<0.001), but MN frequencies were not elevated. Spearman correlation analysis showed that the frequency of MN was positively correlated with 8-OHdG. A positive correlation between DNA DI levels and 8-OHdG was also observed. In conclusion, our results indicated that low levels of occupational exposure to benzene and atmospheric pollutants may be linked to genotoxicity and oxidative DNA damage.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Toxicology, Department of Clinical and Toxicological Analysis, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; Post-graduate Program in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Gabriela
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Göethel
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Toxicology, Department of Clinical and Toxicological Analysis, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; Post-graduate Program in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Natália
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Brucker
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Toxicology, Department of Clinical and Toxicological Analysis, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; Post-graduate Program in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Angela M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Moro
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Toxicology, Department of Clinical and Toxicological Analysis, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; Post-graduate Program in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Mariele F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Charão
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Toxicology, Department of Clinical and Toxicological Analysis, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; Post-graduate Program in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fracasso
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Toxicology, Department of Clinical and Toxicological Analysis, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; Post-graduate Program in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Anelise
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Barth
authors.affiliation: Post-graduate Program in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Guilherme
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bubols
authors.affiliation: Post-graduate Program in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Juliano
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Durgante
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Toxicology, Department of Clinical and Toxicological Analysis, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; Post-graduate Program in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Sabrina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nascimento
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Toxicology, Department of Clinical and Toxicological Analysis, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; Post-graduate Program in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marília
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Baierle
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, College of Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Paulo H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Saldiva
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Toxicology, Department of Clinical and Toxicological Analysis, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; Post-graduate Program in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil. Electronic address: solange.garcia@ufrgs.br.
authors.forename: Solange C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Garcia
mesh_terms: D000080242:8-Hydroxy-2'-Deoxyguanosine; D000328:Adult; D001554:Benzene / Q000633:toxicity*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000652:urine; D002263:Carboxyhemoglobin / Q000378:metabolism; D020552:Comet Assay; D004249:DNA Damage / Q000187:drug effects*; D003849:Deoxyguanosine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000652:urine; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015162:Micronucleus Tests; D008875:Middle Aged; D009153:Mutagens / Q000633:toxicity; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D013011:Sorbic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D009153:Mutagens; C005939:muconic acid; D000080242:8-Hydroxy-2'-Deoxyguanosine; D002263:Carboxyhemoglobin; D003849:Deoxyguanosine; D001554:Benzene; D013011:Sorbic Acid
keywords: 8-Hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG); Comet assay; Genotoxicity; Micronucleus; Xenobiotics