title: Evaluation of chromosome aberration and micronucleus frequencies in blood lymphocytes of workers exposed to low concentrations of benzene.
abstract: The frequency of chromosome aberrations (CA) and micronuclei (MN) was investigated in the peripheral lymphocytes of workers occupationally exposed to low or very low concentrations of benzene. The study included 43 exposed workers (all males), namely 19 fuel-tanker drivers and 24 filling-station attendants, and 31 male subjects with no occupational exposure to the toxicant (controls). Benzene exposure was verified by means of environmental monitoring with passive personal samplers (Radiello(®)), and through biological monitoring, i.e. by measurement of urinary trans,trans-muconic acid, S-phenylmercapturic acid and benzene. The frequency of CA and MN in peripheral lymphocytes was determined according to standard procedures. Exposure to benzene was found to be significantly higher for fuel-tanker drivers (median 246.6 μg/m(3)) than for filling-station attendants (median 19.9 μg/m(3)). Both groups had significantly higher exposure than controls (median 4.3 μg/m(3)). No increased frequency of CA and MN was observed in either fuel-tanker drivers or filling-station attendants compared with controls. In all subjects examined as a single group, the frequency of MN was significantly dependent on age. Only in the fuel-tanker drivers was the frequency of MN found to depend not only on age, but also on exposure to benzene. In conclusion, the frequency of MN, but not of CA, could be influenced by exposure to benzene concentrations of up to one order of magnitude lower than the threshold limit value (time-weighted average).
authors.affiliation: Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine, Section of Occupational Medicine "E.C. Vigliani", University of Bari, Bari, Italy. Electronic address: piero.lovreglio@uniba.it.
authors.forename: Piero
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lovreglio
authors.affiliation: Department for Life Quality Studies, Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna, Rimini, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Maffei
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Medicine, Section of Occupational Medicine, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Mariella
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Carrieri
authors.affiliation: Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine, Section of Occupational Medicine "E.C. Vigliani", University of Bari, Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: D'Errico
authors.affiliation: Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine, Section of Occupational Medicine "E.C. Vigliani", University of Bari, Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: Ignazio
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Drago
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, Alma Mater Studiorum, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Patrizia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hrelia
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Medicine, Section of Occupational Medicine, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanni B
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Bartolucci
authors.affiliation: Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine, Section of Occupational Medicine "E.C. Vigliani", University of Bari, Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: Leonardo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Soleo
mesh_terms: D000111:Acetylcysteine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000652:urine; D000328:Adult; D001554:Benzene / Q000633:toxicity*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000652:urine; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002869:Chromosome Aberrations / Q000139:chemically induced*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D006801:Humans; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D015162:Micronucleus Tests; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013011:Sorbic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000378:metabolism; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; C005939:muconic acid; C053003:S-phenyl-N-acetylcysteine; D001554:Benzene; D000111:Acetylcysteine; D013011:Sorbic Acid
keywords: Benzene; Bio-monitoring; Chromosome aberrations; Low concentrations; Micronuclei