title: Petrol exposure and DNA integrity of peripheral lymphocytes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the effect of petrol exposure on DNA integrity in peripheral blood lymphocytes among petrol attendants and a non-exposed comparison population.
  
  
  METHODS
  This cross-sectional study included 101 fuel station employees and 50 office-based non-exposed workers in Durban, South Africa. Participants were interviewed using a validated questionnaire. Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral lymphocytes for the benzo(a)pyrene diol epoxide (BPDE)-DNA adduct assay (ELISA), and DNA damage was determined using the comet assay and reported as percentage tail DNA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The exposed (n = 101) and non-exposed participants (n = 50) varied with regard to age, housing, smoking, and proximity to industry and petrol stations. Among the exposed, the mean duration of employment in the fuel industry was 5.8 years (SD = 4.6), and among those pumping fuel (n = 75), the mean metric tons of petrol pumped in the past 12 months per worker was 199.2 (SD = 88.9). The mean percentage tail DNA varied significantly between exposed and non-exposed groups: 23.8 % (SD = 13.3) and 8.1 % (SD = 1.8) (p < 0.01), respectively. A significant difference existed between the groups for BPDE-DNA adducts: 30.0 ng/ml (SD = 12.7) and 18.1 ng/ml (SD = 18.2) (p < 0.0001), respectively. Regression models, adjusting for cigarette smoking, age, and sex, showed a 16.5 greater percentage tail DNA among the exposed compared to non-exposed (95 % CI 11.8-21.1 %), while the exposed group had a 12.9 ng/ml greater increase in BPDE-DNA adducts has compared to the unexposed (95 % CI 7.2-18.7 ng/ml). Cigarette smoking resulted in almost a 3.5 % increase in percentage tail DNA.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study adds to the literature that long-term, low-dose exposure to vehicular fuels is likely to result in altered DNA integrity and genotoxicity among petrol attendants. These results strengthen the case that these workers must be afforded appropriate protection to prevent serious adverse outcomes.
authors: Discipline of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Nursing and Public Health, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Room 321 George Campbell Building, Durban, 4041, South Africa. naidoon@ukzn.ac.za.
authors: R N
authors: RN
authors: Naidoo
authors: Discipline of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Nursing and Public Health, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Room 321 George Campbell Building, Durban, 4041, South Africa.
authors: M H
authors: MH
authors: Makwela
authors: Discipline of Medical Biochemistry, School of Laboratory Medicine and Medical Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Chuturgoon
authors: Discipline of Medical Biochemistry, School of Laboratory Medicine and Medical Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa.
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Tiloke
authors: Discipline of Medical Biochemistry, School of Laboratory Medicine and Medical Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa.
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Ramkaran
authors: Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Phulukdaree
mesh_terms: D015123:7,8-Dihydro-7,8-dihydroxybenzo(a)pyrene 9,10-oxide; D000328:Adult; D020552:Comet Assay; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004247:DNA / Q000187:drug effects*; D018736:DNA Adducts / Q000187:drug effects; D004249:DNA Damage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007221:Industry; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010578:Petroleum / Q000633:toxicity*; D059392:Petroleum Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D013019:South Africa; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D018736:DNA Adducts; D010578:Petroleum; C043931:benzo(a)pyrene-7,8-dihydrodiol-9,10-epoxide-DNA; D015123:7,8-Dihydro-7,8-dihydroxybenzo(a)pyrene 9,10-oxide; D004247:DNA
keywords: BPDE-DNA adduct; Comet assay; DNA damage; Petrol attendants