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Christensen GM, Marcus M, Naudé PJW, Vanker A, Eick SM, Caudle WM, Malcolm-Smith S, Suglia SF, Chang HH, Zar HJ, Stein DJ, Hüls A. Joint effects of prenatal exposure to indoor air pollution and psychosocial factors on early life inflammation. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 252:118822. [PMID: 38565416 PMCID: PMC11188991 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2024.118822] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2023] [Revised: 03/25/2024] [Accepted: 03/27/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
It is hypothesized that air pollution and stress impact the central nervous system through neuroinflammatory pathways Despite this, the association between prenatal exposure to indoor air pollution and psychosocial factors on inflammatory markers in infancy has been underexplored in epidemiology studies. This study investigates the individual and joint effects of prenatal exposure to indoor air pollution and psychosocial factors on early life inflammation (interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α)). We analyzed data from the South African Drakenstein Child Health Study (N = 225). Indoor air pollution and psychosocial factor measurements were taken in the 2nd trimester of pregnancy. Circulating inflammatory markers (IL-1β, Il-6, and TNF-α) were measured in serum in the infants at 6 weeks postnatal. Linear regression models were used to investigate associations between individual exposures and inflammatory markers. To investigate joint effects of environmental and psychosocial factors, Self-Organizing Maps (SOM) were used to create exposure profile clusters. These clusters were added to linear regression models to investigate the associations between exposure profiles and inflammatory markers. All models were adjusted for maternal age, maternal HIV status, and ancestry to control for confounding. Most indoor air pollutants were positively associated with inflammatory markers, particularly benzene and TNF-α in single pollutant models. No consistent patterns were found for psychosocial factors in single-exposure linear regression models. In joint effects analyses, the SOM profile with high indoor air pollution, low SES, and high maternal depressive symptoms were associated with higher inflammation. Indoor air pollutants were consistently associated with increased inflammation in both individual and joint effects models, particularly in combination with low SES and maternal depressive symptoms. The trend for individual psychosocial factors was not as clear, with mainly null associations. As we have observed pro- and anti-inflammatory effects, future research should investigate joint effects of these exposures on inflammation and their health effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grace M Christensen
- Department of Epidemiology, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Michele Marcus
- Department of Epidemiology, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA; Gangarosa Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Petrus J W Naudé
- Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Neuroscience Institute, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Aneesa Vanker
- Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Stephanie M Eick
- Department of Epidemiology, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA; Gangarosa Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - W Michael Caudle
- Gangarosa Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Susan Malcolm-Smith
- Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Neuroscience Institute, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Shakira F Suglia
- Department of Epidemiology, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Howard H Chang
- Gangarosa Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA; Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Heather J Zar
- Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) Unit on Risk and Resilience in Mental Disorders, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Dan J Stein
- Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; Neuroscience Institute, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) Unit on Risk and Resilience in Mental Disorders, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Anke Hüls
- Department of Epidemiology, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA; Gangarosa Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA.
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2
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Seaton A, Baker D, Hedstrom AK, Alfredsson L, Schmierer K. Organic solvents and Multiple Sclerosis: the doubled risk dilemma. Occup Med (Lond) 2023; 73:300-303. [PMID: 37772966 DOI: 10.1093/occmed/kqad086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/30/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Compensation for industrial disease in the UK may be obtained in two ways. A State scheme includes a list of accepted associations between occupations and diseases with evidence of a causative association. Epidemiological evidence of a doubled risk in the occupation concerned is usually required. This takes no account of variation of exposures within occupations, excluding many occupations where risk is less than doubled. In such cases, compensation for a perceived industrial illness may be obtained in Civil Courts, where excessive exposures can be considered. AIMS To show that in the Civil Courts evidence of excessive exposure may lead to compensation for diseases which are not yet compensable as Industrial Injuries in the UK and to draw attention to the association of multiple sclerosis (MS) with solvent exposure. METHODS We report the case of an industrial spray painter, who claimed his MS had been caused by high-level exposure to organic solvents, and our examination of the epidemiological evidence submitted. RESULTS The painter received compensation by an out-of-court settlement, despite the overall epidemiological risk in relation to solvent exposure having been shown to be less than doubled. The evidence hinged on individual risk in relation to high exposure, genetic susceptibility and demonstration of a plausible mechanism. CONCLUSIONS High organic solvent exposure may lead to the development of MS. Those giving evidence in Court need to be able to discuss the epidemiological and toxicological issues in relation to exposure in the individual case.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Seaton
- School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, The Institute of Applied Health Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen AB24 3FX, UK
| | - D Baker
- Centre for Neuroscience, Surgery & Trauma, The Blizard Institute, Faculty of Medicine, Queen Mary University of London, London E1 2AT, UK
| | - A K Hedstrom
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm 171 77, Sweden
| | - L Alfredsson
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm 171 77, Sweden
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm 171 77, Sweden
- Centre of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Region Stockholm, Stockholm 113 65, Sweden
| | - K Schmierer
- Centre for Neuroscience, Surgery & Trauma, The Blizard Institute, Faculty of Medicine, Queen Mary University of London, London E1 2AT, UK
- Clinical Board Medicine (Neuroscience), The Royal London Hospital, Barts Health NHS Trust, London E1 1FR, UK
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3
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Chatterjee N, Kim C, Im J, Kim S, Choi J. Mixture and individual effects of benzene, toluene, and formaldehyde in zebrafish (Danio rerio) development: Metabolomics, epigenetics, and behavioral approaches. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND PHARMACOLOGY 2023; 97:104031. [PMID: 36460283 DOI: 10.1016/j.etap.2022.104031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2021] [Revised: 11/24/2022] [Accepted: 11/28/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
In this study, we aimed to investigate the potential hazards of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) on the development of zebrafish. To this end, zebrafish embryos were exposed in two different windows, either alone or in a mixture with VOCs (benzene, toluene, and formaldehyde) [EW1: 4 ± 2 h post-fertilization (hpf) to 24 hpf and EW2: 24 ± 2 hpf to 48 hpf]. Alterations in global DNA methylation and related gene expression, behavioral responses, and stress-related gene expression were observed. In addition to these endpoints, non-targeted NMR-based global metabolomics followed by pathway analysis showed significant changes in the metabolism of various amino acids during VOC exposure. Regardless of the analyzed endpoints, toluene was the most toxic chemical when exposed individually and possibly played the most pivotal role in the mixture treatment conditions. In conclusion, our data show that exposure to VOCs at embryonic developmental stages causes physiological perturbations and adverse outcomes at later life stages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nivedita Chatterjee
- School of Environmental Engineering, University of Seoul, 163 Siripdaero, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul 02504, South Korea
| | - Chanhee Kim
- School of Environmental Engineering, University of Seoul, 163 Siripdaero, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul 02504, South Korea
| | - Jeongeun Im
- School of Environmental Engineering, University of Seoul, 163 Siripdaero, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul 02504, South Korea
| | - Suhkmann Kim
- Department of Chemistry, Center for Proteome Biophysics and Chemistry Institute for Functional Materials, Pusan National University, Busan 46241, South Korea
| | - Jinhee Choi
- School of Environmental Engineering, University of Seoul, 163 Siripdaero, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul 02504, South Korea.
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4
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Toson ESA, Saad EA, Omar HAER. Occupational exposure to gasoline in gasoline station male attendants promotes M1 polarization in macrophages. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 29:6399-6413. [PMID: 34449021 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-16019-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2021] [Accepted: 08/14/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Several studies have reported the toxicological implications of exposure to petroleum hydrocarbon fumes in animal models. There is little documentation on the effect of such exposure on oxidative stress levels and immune response. To our knowledge, no documentation of M1 polarization in macrophages in gasoline station male attendants. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the harmful effects of gasoline vapors in 62 male attendants (16-70 years) compared to 29 age- and sex-matched-unexposed controls. The attendants were recruited from Damietta governorate gasoline stations. Gasoline exposure induced a significant increase in tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) level (p < 0.05) as well as a slight but non-significant increase in the activity of acidic mammalian chitinase (AMCase) (p > 0.05). Further TNF-α/AMCase ratio was significantly increased (p < 0.01) in sera of the attendants when compared to those of the healthy controls. Also, the total leucocytic and lymphocytic counts were significantly increased (p < 0.01 and p < 0.001, respectively). On contrary, neutrophils to lymphocytes ratio (NLR) and platelets to lymphocytes ratio (PLR) were significantly decreased (p < 0.05 and p < 0.001, respectively). In addition, significant reduction in hemoglobin (Hb) concentration, plasma glutathione reduced form (GSH), and catalase, as well as superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities in red blood cells were observed in the exposed attendants. As a result, malondialdehyde (MDA), nitric oxide (NO) levels, and NO/AMCase ratio were significantly increased (p < 0.05). In conclusion, this study inferred that prolonged gasoline exposure can mediate immune activation, especially M1 macrophages polarization, possibly via oxidative stress-mediated mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- El-Shahat A Toson
- Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Damietta University, New Damietta, Damietta, 34517, Egypt
| | - Entsar A Saad
- Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Damietta University, New Damietta, Damietta, 34517, Egypt
| | - Hadeer Abd El-Raouf Omar
- Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Damietta University, New Damietta, Damietta, 34517, Egypt.
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5
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Epigenetic Effects of Benzene in Hematologic Neoplasms: The Altered Gene Expression. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13102392. [PMID: 34069279 PMCID: PMC8156840 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13102392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2021] [Revised: 05/06/2021] [Accepted: 05/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Benzene is produced by diverse petroleum transformation processes and it is widely employed in industry despite its oncogenic effects. In fact, occupational exposure to benzene may cause hematopoietic malignancy. The leukemogenic action of benzene is particularly complex. Possible processes of onset of hematological malignancies have been recognized as a genotoxic action and the provocation of immunosuppression. However, benzene can induce modifications that do not involve alterations in the DNA sequence, the so-called epigenetics changes. Acquired epigenetic modification may also induce leukemogenesis, as benzene may alter nuclear receptors, and cause changes at the protein level, thereby modifying the function of regulatory proteins, including oncoproteins and tumor suppressor proteins. Abstract Benzene carcinogenic ability has been reported, and chronic exposure to benzene can be one of the risk elements for solid cancers and hematological neoplasms. Benzene is acknowledged as a myelotoxin, and it is able to augment the risk for the onset of acute myeloid leukemia, myelodysplastic syndromes, aplastic anemia, and lymphomas. Possible mechanisms of benzene initiation of hematological tumors have been identified, as a genotoxic effect, an action on oxidative stress and inflammation and the provocation of immunosuppression. However, it is becoming evident that genetic alterations and the other causes are insufficient to fully justify several phenomena that influence the onset of hematologic malignancies. Acquired epigenetic alterations may participate with benzene leukemogenesis, as benzene may affect nuclear receptors, and provoke post-translational alterations at the protein level, thereby touching the function of regulatory proteins, comprising oncoproteins and tumor suppressor proteins. DNA hypomethylation correlates with stimulation of oncogenes, while the hypermethylation of CpG islands in promoter regions of specific tumor suppressor genes inhibits their transcription and stimulates the onset of tumors. The discovery of the systems of epigenetic induction of benzene-caused hematological tumors has allowed the possibility to operate with pharmacological interventions able of stopping or overturning the negative effects of benzene.
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6
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Guo H, Ahn S, Zhang L. Benzene-associated immunosuppression and chronic inflammation in humans: a systematic review. Occup Environ Med 2020; 78:oemed-2020-106517. [PMID: 32938756 PMCID: PMC7960562 DOI: 10.1136/oemed-2020-106517] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2020] [Revised: 08/01/2020] [Accepted: 08/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Recent evidence has accumulated that the immune system is intimately intertwined with cancer development. Two key characteristics of carcinogens in which the immune system plays a central role are chronic inflammation and immunosuppression. In this systematic review, we investigated the association of chronic inflammatory and immunosuppressive outcomes with benzene, a widely used industrial chemical. Benzene has been confirmed to cause acute myeloid leukaemia and suspected to cause non-Hodgkin lymphoma, two cancers of the blood-forming system that affect immune cells. METHODS We systematically searched PubMed and Embase for all relevant studies using a combination of Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) and selected key words. The detailed review protocol, including search strategy, was registered with PROSPERO, the international prospective register of systematic reviews (#CRD42019138611). RESULTS Based on all human studies selected in the final review, we report new evidence of a benzene-induced immunosuppressive effect on the adaptive immune system and activation of the innate immune system to cause inflammation. In particular, benzene significantly lowers the number of white blood cells, particularly lymphocytes such as CD4+ T-cells, B-cells and natural killer cells, and increases proinflammatory biomarkers at low levels of exposure. CONCLUSION To the best of our knowledge, this is the first comprehensive review of benzene's immunotoxicity in humans. Based on results obtained from this review, we propose two potential immunotoxic mechanisms of how benzene induces leukaemia/lymphoma: (1) cancer invasion caused by proinflammatory cytokine production, and (2) cancer promotion via impaired immunosurveillance. Further studies will be required to confirm the connection between benzene exposure and its effects on the immune system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helen Guo
- Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, California, USA
| | - Stacy Ahn
- Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, California, USA
| | - Luoping Zhang
- Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, California, USA
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7
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Jiménez-Garza O, Linares-Segovia B, Ruiz-García L, Monroy-Torres R, Hernández-Luna MA. 5'UTR methylation in different genes from workers exposed to volatile organic compounds: A new insight for considering an epigenetic mark as a functional correlate. Toxicol Lett 2020; 330:59-64. [PMID: 32437847 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxlet.2020.05.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2019] [Revised: 04/28/2020] [Accepted: 05/03/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Gene-specific methylation has been related with transcriptional/translational consequences in different cells; also, this epigenetic modification is affected by environmental exposures. In previous studies, CYP2E1 activity in toluene-exposed workers was decreased compared to controls, however, CYP2E1 promoter methylation levels did not show significant differences. Here, we compared gene-specific methylation levels at the 5'UTR region, in a subset of workers whom already participated in two former studies, compared to controls. METHODS DNA was obtained from whole blood in five different groups: occupationally exposed to a mixture of volatile organic compounds (VOC): high levels (n = 19); low levels (n = 19) and very low levels (n = 17), toluene-exposed workers (n = 19) and control group (n = 19). We performed PCR-pyrosequencing at the 5'UTR region from four genes: CYP2E1, IL-6, SOD1 and TNF-α. RESULTS In participants exposed to high levels of a VOC mixture, we found significant differences: lower methylation levels for IL-6, and higher methylation levels for TNF-α compared to controls. In toluene-exposed workers, we found significant, lower methylation levels for CYP2E1 compared to controls. CONCLUSION Lower methylation levels at the 5'UTR region from CYP2E1 in toluene exposed-workers, suggests that this epigenetic modification could represent a functional correlate regarding enzymatic activity, as a response to toluene biotransformation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Octavio Jiménez-Garza
- Health Sciences Division, University of Guanajuato, León Campus. Blvd. Puente del Milenio, 1001 Fracc. Del Predio San Carlos, CP 37670, León, Guanajuato, Mexico.
| | - Benigno Linares-Segovia
- Health Sciences Division, University of Guanajuato, León Campus. Blvd. Puente del Milenio, 1001 Fracc. Del Predio San Carlos, CP 37670, León, Guanajuato, Mexico
| | - Liliana Ruiz-García
- Health Sciences Division, University of Guanajuato, León Campus. Blvd. Puente del Milenio, 1001 Fracc. Del Predio San Carlos, CP 37670, León, Guanajuato, Mexico
| | - Rebeca Monroy-Torres
- Health Sciences Division, University of Guanajuato, León Campus. Blvd. Puente del Milenio, 1001 Fracc. Del Predio San Carlos, CP 37670, León, Guanajuato, Mexico
| | - Marco Antonio Hernández-Luna
- Health Sciences Division, University of Guanajuato, León Campus. Blvd. Puente del Milenio, 1001 Fracc. Del Predio San Carlos, CP 37670, León, Guanajuato, Mexico
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8
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Barkhordari S, Mirmosayyeb O, Mansourian M, Hosseininasab F, Ramezani S, Barzegar M, Amin MM, Poursafa P, Esmaeil N, Kelishadi R. Omega 3 Supplementation Can Regulate Inflammatory States in Gas Station Workers: A Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial. J Interferon Cytokine Res 2020; 40:262-267. [PMID: 32176565 DOI: 10.1089/jir.2019.0220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Environmental exposure to diesel particulate matter and commercial gasoline in gas station workers might induce oxidative stress and changes in the balance of the immune system. In this study, the immunomodulatory impacts of omega 3 fatty acid (ω3FA) supplement were assessed on inflammatory and anti-inflammatory markers in gas station workers in a double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial. Fifty-three men working in gas stations were treated with ω3FA (n = 29) or placebo (n = 24) for 60 days. C-reactive protein, interleukin-12 (IL-12), transforming growth factor β (TGF-β), interferon γ (IFN-γ), tumor necrosis factor α, IL-10, and IL-17 levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method before and after the completion of the trial. The concentrations of IFN-γ and IL-17 were significantly decreased in ω3FA group compared with the placebo group (P < 0.001). Moreover, the levels of inhibitory cytokines including TGF-β and IL-10 significantly were increased in ω3FA group (P < 0.001). Overall, ω3FA nutritional supplementation can be useful in reducing inflammatory immune responses and maintaining immune tolerance in people with high exposure to inflammation-inducing factors. [Figure: see text].
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Affiliation(s)
- Shoresh Barkhordari
- Student Research Committee, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.,Environment Research Center, Research Institute for Primordial Prevention of Non-Communicable Disease, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Omid Mirmosayyeb
- Isfahan Neurosciences Research Center, Alzahra Research Institute, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.,Universal Council of Epidemiology (UCE), Universal Scientific Education and Research Network (USERN), Tehran, Iran
| | - Marjan Mansourian
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Health, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Fahimeh Hosseininasab
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Saba Ramezani
- Student Research Committee, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Mahdi Barzegar
- Student Research Committee, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Mohammad Mehdi Amin
- Environment Research Center, Research Institute for Primordial Prevention of Non-Communicable Disease, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Parinaz Poursafa
- Environment Research Center, Research Institute for Primordial Prevention of Non-Communicable Disease, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Nafiseh Esmaeil
- Environment Research Center, Research Institute for Primordial Prevention of Non-Communicable Disease, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran.,Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Roya Kelishadi
- Child Growth and Development Research Center, Research Institute for Primordial Prevention of Non-communicable Disease, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
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Samadi MT, Shakerkhatibi M, Poorolajal J, Rahmani A, Rafieemehr H, Hesam M. Association of long term exposure to outdoor volatile organic compounds (BTXS) with pro-inflammatory biomarkers and hematologic parameters in urban adults: A cross-sectional study in Tabriz, Iran. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2019; 180:152-159. [PMID: 31082579 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2019.05.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2019] [Revised: 04/20/2019] [Accepted: 05/02/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
This study aimed to compare the hematologic variables and pro-inflammatory biomarkers in urban adults living in Tabriz, Iran, facing various levels of outdoor volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Of all 219 people (212 male and 7 female), 71 were from the low traffic area and 148 were from high traffic and industrial areas. To validate the exposure levels, 93 air samples were taken to determine the target VOCs (benzene, toluene, xylenes, and styrene collectively called BTXS) concentrations in the studied areas. ANOVA and Tukey's tests were used for statistical analysis. Based on the results, significant differences were observed between the mean concentrations of BTXS with the following order of abundance: industrial > high traffic > low traffic. The Considerable decrease was observed in red blood cells (RBCs), hemoglobin, hematocrit, and eosinophils of 0.324 ( × 106/μL), 0.57 g/dL, 1.87%, and 0.17 ( × 103/μL), respectively in industrial area participants as compared to the low traffic area. However, a significant increase was observed in white blood cell count (WBC), neutrophils number, neutrophils percent, TNF-α and INF-γ of 0.88 ( × 103/μL), 0.80 ( × 103/μL), 3.53%, 34.2 ng/mL, and 40.06 ng/mL, respectively in the same groups. The comparison of low and high traffic areas showed significant differences in RBC (p = 0.034), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) (p < 0.001), and interferon gamma (INF-γ) (p < 0.001). On the contrary, no significant difference was observed in TNF-α and INF-γ among the high traffic and industrial areas. In conclusion, the results showed that the samples from high traffic and industrial areas were regularly exposed to higher values of BTXS due to traffic and industrial pollutants as compared to the samples residing in low traffic regions. Based on the results living in both high traffic and industrial regions can increase adverse effects on hematologic parameters and pro-inflammatory cytokines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Taghi Samadi
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, Faculty of Health and Research Center for Health Sciences, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran.
| | - Mohammad Shakerkhatibi
- Health and Environment Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
| | - Jalal Poorolajal
- Research Center for Health Sciences and Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran.
| | - Alireza Rahmani
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, Faculty of Health and Research Center for Health Sciences, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran.
| | - Hassan Rafieemehr
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, School of Paramedicine, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran.
| | - Mousa Hesam
- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Health, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran.
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10
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Jiménez-Garza O, Guo L, Byun HM, Carrieri M, Bartolucci GB, Barrón-Vivanco BS, Baccarelli AA. Aberrant promoter methylation in genes related to hematopoietic malignancy in workers exposed to a VOC mixture. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 2017; 339:65-72. [PMID: 29217486 DOI: 10.1016/j.taap.2017.12.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2017] [Revised: 11/30/2017] [Accepted: 12/03/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Occupational exposure to volatile organic compounds (VOCs) may cause hematopoietic malignancy, either by single exposure to benzene or possibly due to a concomitant exposure to several VOCs. Since oxidative stress, inflammation and DNA repair pathways are closely involved in cancer development, the effect of VOC exposure on expression of proteins involved in these pathways has been studied, but epigenetic changes have not been well described. Here, DNA methylation status following occupational exposure to a VOC mixture was assessed by bisulfite sequencing of the promoter regions of seven genes involved in the mentioned pathways. Peripheral blood samples and individual-level VOC exposure data were obtained from healthy leather shoe factory workers (LS, n=40) and gas station attendants (GS, n=36), as well as a reference group of university employees (C, n=66). Exposure levels for acetone, ethylbenzene, methyl ethyl ketone, n-hexane, toluene and xylene were higher in LS (p<0.001); benzene and methyl acetate levels were higher in GS (p<0.001). TOP2A, SOD1, and TNF-α promoter methylation status was increased in LS (p<0.05). In LS, we also found significant correlations between GSTP1 promoter methylation and both iNOS (r=0.37, p=0.008) and COX-2 (r=-0.38, p=0.007) methylation. In exposed groups, ethylbenzene exposure levels showed a significant correlation with TOP2A methylation (β=0.33). Our results show early, toxic effects at the epigenetic level caused by occupational exposure to high levels of a VOC mixture. These subcellular modifications may represent the initial mechanism of toxicity leading to hematopoietic malignancy, possibly due to a synergistic, hematotoxic effect of VOC mixtures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Octavio Jiménez-Garza
- Health Sciences Division, University of Guanajuato, León, Campus. Blvd. Puente del Mienio 1001, Fracción del Predio San Carlos, C.P. 37670 León Guanajuato, Mexico.
| | - Liqiong Guo
- Department of Occupational & Environmental Health, Tianjin Medical University, No.22 Qixiangtai Road, Heping District, Tianjin 300070, China
| | - Hyang-Min Byun
- Human Nutrition Research Centre, Institute of Cellular Medicine, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE4 5PL, United Kingdom
| | - Mariella Carrieri
- Department of Cardiologic, Thoracic and Vascular Science, University of Padova, Via Giustiniani, 2, 35128 Padova, Italy
| | - Giovanni Battista Bartolucci
- Department of Cardiologic, Thoracic and Vascular Science, University of Padova, Via Giustiniani, 2, 35128 Padova, Italy
| | - Briscia Socorro Barrón-Vivanco
- The Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology and Pollution, Autonomous University of Nayarit, Av de la Cultura Amado Nervo S/N, CP 36000 Tepic, Nayarit, Mexico
| | - Andrea A Baccarelli
- The Laboratory of Human Environmental Epigenetics, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, 677 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA
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Jiménez-Garza O, Guo L, Byun HM, Carrieri M, Bartolucci GB, Zhong J, Baccarelli AA. Promoter methylation status in genes related with inflammation, nitrosative stress and xenobiotic metabolism in low-level benzene exposure: Searching for biomarkers of oncogenesis. Food Chem Toxicol 2017; 109:669-676. [DOI: 10.1016/j.fct.2017.08.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2017] [Accepted: 08/15/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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12
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Kim KW, Won YL, Park DJ, Kim YS, Jin ES, Lee SK. Combined Toxic Effects of Polar and Nonpolar Chemicals on Human Hepatocytes (HepG2) Cells by Quantitative Property-Activity Relationship Modeling. Toxicol Res 2016; 32:337-343. [PMID: 27818736 PMCID: PMC5080860 DOI: 10.5487/tr.2016.32.4.337] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2016] [Revised: 06/13/2016] [Accepted: 07/26/2016] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
We determined the toxicity of mixtures of ethyl acetate (EA), isopropyl alcohol (IPA), methyl ethyl ketone (MEK), toluene (TOL) and xylene (XYL) with half-maximal effective concentration (EC50) values obtained using human hepatocytes cells. According to these data, quantitative property-activity relationships (QPAR) models were successfully proposed to predict the toxicity of mixtures by multiple linear regressions (MLR). The leave-one-out cross validation method was used to find the best subsets of descriptors in the learning methods. Significant differences in physico-chemical properties such as boiling point (BP), specific gravity (SG), Reid vapor pressure (rVP) and flash point (FP) were observed between the single substances and the mixtures. The EC50 of the mixture of EA and IPA was significantly lower than that of contained TOL and XYL. The mixture toxicity was related to the mixing ratio of MEK, TOL and XYL (MLR equation EC50 = 3.3081 − 2.5018 × TOL − 3.2595 × XYL − 12.6596 × MEK × XYL), as well as to BP, SG, VP and FP (MLR equation EC50 = 1.3424 + 6.2250 × FP − 7.1198 × SG × FP − 0.03013 × rVP × FP). These results suggest that QPAR-based models could accurately predict the toxicity of polar and nonpolar mixtures used in rotogravure printing industries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ki-Woong Kim
- Occupational Safety and Health Research Institute, Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency, Ulsan, Korea
| | - Yong Lim Won
- Occupational Safety and Health Research Institute, Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency, Ulsan, Korea
| | - Dong Jin Park
- Occupational Safety and Health Research Institute, Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency, Ulsan, Korea
| | - Young Sun Kim
- Occupational Safety and Health Research Institute, Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency, Ulsan, Korea
| | - Eun Sil Jin
- Department of Chemistry, Hannam University, Daejeon, Korea
| | - Sung Kwang Lee
- Department of Chemistry, Hannam University, Daejeon, Korea
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CYP2E1 epigenetic regulation in chronic, low-level toluene exposure: Relationship with oxidative stress and smoking habit. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 2015; 286:207-15. [DOI: 10.1016/j.taap.2015.04.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2015] [Revised: 04/08/2015] [Accepted: 04/29/2015] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
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14
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Bolden AL, Kwiatkowski CF, Colborn T. New Look at BTEX: Are Ambient Levels a Problem? ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2015; 49:5261-76. [PMID: 25873211 DOI: 10.1021/es505316f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 217] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
Benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene (BTEX) are retrieved during fossil fuel extraction and used as solvents in consumer and industrial products, as gasoline additives, and as intermediates in the synthesis of organic compounds for many consumer products. Emissions from the combustion of gasoline and diesel fuels are the largest contributors to atmospheric BTEX concentrations. However, levels indoors (where people spend greater than 83% of their time) can be many times greater than outdoors. In this review we identified epidemiological studies assessing the noncancer health impacts of ambient level BTEX exposure (i.e., nonoccupational) and discussed how the health conditions may be hormonally mediated. Health effects significantly associated with ambient level exposure included sperm abnormalities, reduced fetal growth, cardiovascular disease, respiratory dysfunction, asthma, sensitization to common antigens, and more. Several hormones including estrogens, androgens, glucocorticoids, insulin, and serotonin may be involved in these health outcomes. This analysis suggests that all four chemicals may have endocrine disrupting properties at exposure levels below reference concentrations (i.e., safe levels) issued by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. These data should be considered when evaluating the use of BTEX in consumer and industrial products and indicates a need to change how chemicals present at low concentrations are assessed and regulated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashley L Bolden
- †The Endocrine Disruption Exchange (TEDX), Paonia, Colorado 81428, United States
| | - Carol F Kwiatkowski
- †The Endocrine Disruption Exchange (TEDX), Paonia, Colorado 81428, United States
- ‡Department of Integrative Physiology, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado 80309, United States
| | - Theo Colborn
- †The Endocrine Disruption Exchange (TEDX), Paonia, Colorado 81428, United States
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Cytokine network involvement in subjects exposed to benzene. J Immunol Res 2014; 2014:937987. [PMID: 25202711 PMCID: PMC4151491 DOI: 10.1155/2014/937987] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2014] [Revised: 07/30/2014] [Accepted: 08/04/2014] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Benzene represents an ubiquitous pollutant both in the workplace and in the general environment. Health risk and stress posed by benzene have long been a concern because of the carcinogenic effects of the compound which was classified as a Group 1 carcinogen to humans and animals. There is a close correlation between leukemia, especially acute myeloid leukemia, and benzene exposure. In addition, exposure to benzene can cause harmful effects on immunological, neurological, and reproductive systems. Benzene can directly damage hematopoietic progenitor cells, which in turn could lead to apoptosis or may decrease responsiveness to cytokines and cellular adhesion molecules. Alternatively, benzene toxicity to stromal cells or mature blood cells could disrupt the regulation of hematopoiesis, including hematopoietic commitment, maturation, or mobilization, through the network of cytokines, chemokines, and adhesion molecules. Today there is mounting evidence that benzene may alter the gene expression, production, or processing of several cytokines in vitro and in vivo. The purpose of this review was to systematically analyze the published cases of cytokine effects on human benzene exposure, particularly hematotoxicity, and atopy, and on lungs.
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