title: Impact of exposure to wood dust on genotoxicity and cytotoxicity in exfoliated buccal and nasal cells.
abstract: Wood dust was classified by the IARC as a human carcinogen which causes sinonasal tumours. However, the exposure in different industries varies strongly and the risks of workers depend on the specific situation which can be assessed by the use of biomonitoring methods. The aim of this study was to investigate the workers who are exposed to low dust levels (below the permitted concentrations) with cytogenetic and biochemical methods. Micronuclei (MNi) which are indicative for genomic damage, nuclear buds which reflect gene amplification, binucleated cells which are caused by mitotic disturbances and acute cytotoxicity parameters (pyknosis, karyorrhexis, condensed chromatin, karyolysis) were monitored in buccal and nasal cells of workers of a veneer factory (n = 51) who are exposed to volatile wood-derived compounds, in carpenters of a furniture factory which use no synthetic chemicals (n=38) and in a control group (n = 65). Additionally, markers were measured in blood plasma which reflect inflammations (C-reactive protein, CRP) and the redox status, namely malondialdehyde (MDA) and oxidised low density proteins (oxLDL). No induction of micronucleated cells was observed in both epithelia in the two exposure groups while all other nuclear anomalies except pyknosis were increased; also one health-related biochemical marker (MDA) was significantly elevated in the workers. Taken together, the results of our study show that exposure to low levels of wood dust does not cause formation of MNi indicating that the cancer risks of the workers are not increased as a consequence of genetic damage while positive results were obtained in earlier studies with workers who are exposed to high dust levels. However, our findings indicate that wood dust causes cytotoxic effects which may lead to inflammations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine I, Institute of Cancer Research, Comprehensive Cancer Center Medical University of Vienna, Borschkegasse 8a, A-1090 Vienna, Austria, Institute for Environmental Health, Center for Public Health, Medical University of Vienna, Kinderspitalgasse 15, 1090 Vienna, Austria, Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Vienna , Althanstrasse 14, 1090 Vienna, Austria, Private Clinics Leech, 8010 Graz, Austria.
authors.forename: Georg
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wultsch
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine I, Institute of Cancer Research, Comprehensive Cancer Center Medical University of Vienna, Borschkegasse 8a, A-1090 Vienna, Austria, Institute for Environmental Health, Center for Public Health, Medical University of Vienna, Kinderspitalgasse 15, 1090 Vienna, Austria, Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Vienna , Althanstrasse 14, 1090 Vienna, Austria, Private Clinics Leech, 8010 Graz, Austria.
authors.forename: Armen
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nersesyan
authors.affiliation: Institute for Environmental Health, Center for Public Health, Medical University of Vienna, Kinderspitalgasse 15, 1090 Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kundi
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Vienna , Althanstrasse 14, 1090 Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Karl-Heinz
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Wagner
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine I, Institute of Cancer Research, Comprehensive Cancer Center Medical University of Vienna, Borschkegasse 8a, A-1090 Vienna, Austria, Institute for Environmental Health, Center for Public Health, Medical University of Vienna, Kinderspitalgasse 15, 1090 Vienna, Austria, Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Vienna , Althanstrasse 14, 1090 Vienna, Austria, Private Clinics Leech, 8010 Graz, Austria.
authors.forename: Franziska
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ferk
authors.affiliation: Private Clinics Leech, 8010 Graz, Austria.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jakse
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine I, Institute of Cancer Research, Comprehensive Cancer Center Medical University of Vienna, Borschkegasse 8a, A-1090 Vienna, Austria, Institute for Environmental Health, Center for Public Health, Medical University of Vienna, Kinderspitalgasse 15, 1090 Vienna, Austria, Department of Nutritional Sciences, University of Vienna , Althanstrasse 14, 1090 Vienna, Austria, Private Clinics Leech, 8010 Graz, Austria siegfried.knasmueller@meduniwien.ac.at.
authors.forename: Siegfried
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Knasmueller
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003603:Cytotoxins / Q000633:toxicity*; D004391:Dust; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation; D008297:Male; D048629:Micronuclei, Chromosome-Defective / Q000139:chemically induced; D015162:Micronucleus Tests; D008875:Middle Aged; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D009153:Mutagens / Q000633:toxicity*; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D014934:Wood / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D003603:Cytotoxins; D004391:Dust; D009153:Mutagens