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Sellaro F, Pernetti R, Oddone E. Early biological effects in outdoor workers exposed to urban air pollution: A systematic review. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 362:124985. [PMID: 39299637 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.124985] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2023] [Revised: 08/29/2024] [Accepted: 09/16/2024] [Indexed: 09/22/2024]
Abstract
Urban outdoor workers (OWs), identified as professionals spending most of their working shifts in an urban environment, are exposed for at least 8 h/day to traffic air pollution, leading to potential health risks. This paper reports the results of a systematic review aimed at identifying the potential health outcomes of exposure to air pollutants for OWs, focusing mainly on police officers, drivers and street vendors. Health outcomes were analysed in terms of early biological effects quantified with specific measured indicators. The main inclusion criterion was the assessment of at least one early biological effect (genetic and epigenetic damage/alterations, inflammation or oxidative stress indicators, or hormonal imbalance) in a population of OWs exposed to urban air pollution. By applying the PRISMA workflow, 82 papers were included in this study. The results showed that the measured pollutant concentrations were significantly below the current occupational limit values, while exceeds the indications of WHO for urban air pollution. This exposure led to significant alterations of biological markers in OWs with respect to non-exposed subjects. In particular, OWs presented an increased frequency of micronuclei and DNA adducts as the main DNA alterations, while police officers (a category of highly exposed OWs) showed hormonal alterations affecting mainly the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis. Concerning oxidative stress and inflammation, all the analysed matrices (i.e. blood, sputum, urine and lachrymal fluids) showed increased indices for OWs respect to non-exposed groups. Therefore, the evaluation of effect biomarkers to detect early alterations provides crucial information for supporting the occupational risk management of OWs and, at broader level, allows for an insight of the early-stage health outcomes due to urban air pollution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Sellaro
- Department of Public Health, Experimental and Forensic Medicine - University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy; National Biodiversity Future Center, Italy
| | - Roberta Pernetti
- Department of Public Health, Experimental and Forensic Medicine - University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy; National Biodiversity Future Center, Italy.
| | - Enrico Oddone
- Department of Public Health, Experimental and Forensic Medicine - University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy; Hospital Occupational Medicine Unit, ICS Maugeri IRCCS, Pavia, Italy; National Biodiversity Future Center, Italy
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Ladeira C, Møller P, Giovannelli L, Gajski G, Haveric A, Bankoglu EE, Azqueta A, Gerić M, Stopper H, Cabêda J, Tonin FS, Collins A. The Comet Assay as a Tool in Human Biomonitoring Studies of Environmental and Occupational Exposure to Chemicals-A Systematic Scoping Review. TOXICS 2024; 12:270. [PMID: 38668493 PMCID: PMC11054096 DOI: 10.3390/toxics12040270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2024] [Revised: 03/31/2024] [Accepted: 04/02/2024] [Indexed: 04/29/2024]
Abstract
Biomonitoring of human populations exposed to chemical substances that can act as potential mutagens or carcinogens, may enable the detection of damage and early disease prevention. In recent years, the comet assay has become an important tool for assessing DNA damage, both in environmental and occupational exposure contexts. To evidence the role of the comet assay in human biomonitoring, we have analysed original research studies of environmental or occupational exposure that used the comet assay in their assessments, following the PRISMA-ScR method (preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses extension for scoping reviews). Groups of chemicals were designated according to a broad classification, and the results obtained from over 300 original studies (n = 123 on air pollutants, n = 14 on anaesthetics, n = 18 on antineoplastic drugs, n = 57 on heavy metals, n = 59 on pesticides, and n = 49 on solvents) showed overall higher values of DNA strand breaks in the exposed subjects in comparison with the unexposed. In summary, our systematic scoping review strengthens the relevance of the use of the comet assay in assessing DNA damage in human biomonitoring studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carina Ladeira
- H&TRC-Health & Technology Research Center, ESTeSL-Escola Superior de Tecnologia da Saúde, Instituto Politécnico de Lisboa, 1990-096 Lisbon, Portugal
- NOVA National School of Public Health, Public Health Research Centre, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, 1600-560 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Peter Møller
- Department of Public Health, Section of Environmental Health, University of Copenhagen, 1172 Copenhagen, Denmark;
| | - Lisa Giovannelli
- Department NEUROFARBA, Section Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Florence, 50121 Florence, Italy;
| | - Goran Gajski
- Division of Toxicology, Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia; (G.G.); (M.G.)
| | - Anja Haveric
- Institute for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Sarajevo, 71000 Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina;
| | - Ezgi Eyluel Bankoglu
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Würzburg, 97078 Würzburg, Germany; (E.E.B.); (H.S.)
| | - Amaya Azqueta
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy and Nutrition, University of Navarra, 31009 Pamplona, Spain;
| | - Marko Gerić
- Division of Toxicology, Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia; (G.G.); (M.G.)
| | - Helga Stopper
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Würzburg, 97078 Würzburg, Germany; (E.E.B.); (H.S.)
| | - José Cabêda
- Guarda Nacional Republicana, Destacamento Territorial de Vila Franca de Xira, Núcleo de Proteção Ambiental, 1500-124 Lisbon, Portugal;
| | - Fernanda S. Tonin
- Pharmaceutical Care Research Group, Universidad de Granada, 18012 Granada, Spain;
| | - Andrew Collins
- Department of Nutrition, University of Oslo, 0316 Oslo, Norway;
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Sedlák V, Bujňák A, Gajdoš A, Gajdošová D, Poráčová J, Konečná M, Fejér J, Gruľová D, Vašková H, Mydlárová Blaščáková M. Cytogenetic analysis of coke oven workers in Eastern Slovakia. Cent Eur J Public Health 2023; 31:S95-S100. [PMID: 38272485 DOI: 10.21101/cejph.a7845] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2023] [Accepted: 12/01/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Our study aimed to evaluate the extent of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) exposure in coke oven workers from Eastern Slovakia by cytogenetic analysis of human peripheral lymphocytes. METHODS A total of 81 peripheral blood samples were collected from PAH-exposed workers (mean age 45.84 ± 9.73 years) and 30 samples constituted the control group (41.93 ± 15.39 years). The samples were processed using routine cytological analysis. Conventional cytogenetic analysis of human peripheral lymphocytes has been used to evaluate the effects of PAHs. RESULTS Comparison of the aberrant cells in the total exposed with the controls showed a significant difference (p < 0.05). A high level of significance (p < 0.001) was observed when comparing the gaps between the exposed group and the control group. There was a significant difference (p < 0.01) in aberrant cells and chromatid breaks (p < 0.05) in the GR1 working subgroup compared with the control group. The results of the correlation analysis did not show a significant relationship between the length of occupational exposure and the frequency of aberrant cells (r = 0.071, p = 0.529). Similarly, no association was observed between smoking among coke plant workers and the frequency of aberrant cells (r = 0.117, p = 0.538). CONCLUSION Cytogenetic analysis showed an increased frequency of chromosomal aberrations in coke oven workers in Eastern Slovakia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincent Sedlák
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Humanities and Natural Sciences, University of Presov, Presov, Slovak Republic
| | - Anton Bujňák
- Regional Public Health Authority with the Seat in Kosice, National Reference Centre for Evaluation of Late Effects of Chemical Substances by Genetic Toxicology Methods, Kosice, Slovak Republic
| | - Andrej Gajdoš
- Regional Public Health Authority with the Seat in Kosice, National Reference Centre for Evaluation of Late Effects of Chemical Substances by Genetic Toxicology Methods, Kosice, Slovak Republic
| | - Dagmar Gajdošová
- Regional Public Health Authority with the Seat in Kosice, National Reference Centre for Evaluation of Late Effects of Chemical Substances by Genetic Toxicology Methods, Kosice, Slovak Republic
| | - Janka Poráčová
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Humanities and Natural Sciences, University of Presov, Presov, Slovak Republic
| | - Mária Konečná
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Humanities and Natural Sciences, University of Presov, Presov, Slovak Republic
| | - Jozef Fejér
- Department of Ecology, Faculty of Humanities and Natural Sciences, University of Presov, Presov, Slovak Republic
| | - Daniela Gruľová
- Department of Ecology, Faculty of Humanities and Natural Sciences, University of Presov, Presov, Slovak Republic
| | - Hedviga Vašková
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Humanities and Natural Sciences, University of Presov, Presov, Slovak Republic
| | - Marta Mydlárová Blaščáková
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Humanities and Natural Sciences, University of Presov, Presov, Slovak Republic
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Wang TS, Ruchirawat M, Narasumrit P, Xia ZL, Au WW. Lymphocyte-based challenge DNA-repair assays for personalized health risk assessment. MUTATION RESEARCH. REVIEWS IN MUTATION RESEARCH 2022; 790:108427. [PMID: 35688302 DOI: 10.1016/j.mrrev.2022.108427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2021] [Revised: 05/29/2022] [Accepted: 06/03/2022] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Combinations of genetic and environmental factors are responsible for the development of many human diseases, such as cancer, as demonstrated using various biomarkers. Within this scenario, DNA repair holds a gate-keeper position which determines outcomes after appearance of DNA damage and, therefore, adverse cellular consequences, e.g., initiation of carcinogenesis. DNA repair deficiency and some of the subsequent events can be validated from studies using live cells from cancer patients. However, these deficiencies/events are difficult to demonstrate in live cells from normal individuals because individual variations in DNA repair capacities (DRC) are too low to be measured easily. Such lack of information has been hindering progress in developing personalized disease prevention and intervention protocols, especially among exposed populations. However, using a variety of challenge assays as biomarkers, variations in individual's DRC can be amplified in live cells and be determined. Furthermore, evidence indicates that DRC are not only inherited but can also be modified by environmental factors (e.g., nutritional status and exposure to genotoxic substances). Using these challenge assays, e.g., in live lymphocytes, individual's DRC can be holistically and functionally determined as well as quantitated. With the more precise information, assessment of health risk can be better determined on an individual rather than on a population basis. This review provides a succinct summary on the development and application of recent challenge assays in lymphocytes which can provide measurements of individuals' DRC, and on the latest data for more precise disease prevention and intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tong-Shuai Wang
- Department of Occupational Health and Toxicology, School of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Clinical and Translational Research Center of Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Mathuros Ruchirawat
- Center of Excellence on Environmental Health, Toxicology and Management of Chemicals, Bangkok, Thailand; Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology, Chulabhorn Research Institute, Toxicology and Management of Chemicals, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Panida Narasumrit
- Center of Excellence on Environmental Health, Toxicology and Management of Chemicals, Bangkok, Thailand; Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology, Chulabhorn Research Institute, Toxicology and Management of Chemicals, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Zhao-Lin Xia
- Department of Occupational Health and Toxicology, School of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
| | - William W Au
- University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science and Technology, Targu Mures, Romania; University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA.
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Ruchirawat M, Cebulska-Wasilewska A, Au WW. Evidence for exposure-induced DNA repair abnormality is indicative of health and genetic risk. Int J Hyg Environ Health 2013; 216:566-73. [PMID: 23545294 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2013.03.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2012] [Revised: 03/03/2013] [Accepted: 03/07/2013] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
A recent focus has been targeted toward the development of functional biomarkers that can be used to predict disease more reliably. One such biomarker is the challenge assay for DNA repair deficiency. Briefly, the assay involves challenging lymphocytes in culture to a DNA damaging agent in vitro and determining the repair outcome in chromosome aberrations and/or DNA strand breaks. The aim is to show that individuals who have chronic exposure to toxic substances will develop exposure-induced DNA repair deficiencies. Many studies around the world have shown that the assay detects DNA repair deficiency in environmentally/occupationally exposed populations and with significant exposure dose-response relationship. The prediction of health risk was also validated. In addition, exposure-induced repair deficiency which was apparently passed through the germ cells had caused genetic consequences in a 3-generation population. The assay is simple to conduct and is more sensitive than some traditional biomarker assays. Together with the functional significance of the assay, the challenge assay can be used with confidence in population studies for health risk assessment.
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Al-Saleh I, Alsabbahen A, Shinwari N, Billedo G, Mashhour A, Al-Sarraj Y, Mohamed GED, Rabbah A. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) as determinants of various anthropometric measures of birth outcome. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2013; 444:565-78. [PMID: 23314068 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2012.12.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2012] [Revised: 12/08/2012] [Accepted: 12/09/2012] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are ubiquitous environmental contaminants that are known to induce oxidative stress. There have been several reports about the link between PAH exposure and complications in pregnancy. This cross-sectional study was conducted to: (1) measure the levels of benzo(a)anthracene (BaA), chrysene (Ch), benzo(b)fluoranthene (BbF), benzo(a)pyrene (BaP), and dibenzo(a,h)anthracene (DBahA) in placentas and maternal and -umbilical cord blood obtained at delivery from 1578 women between June 2005 and 2006 in the area of Al-Kharj, Saudi Arabia; (2) assess their influence on various anthropometric measures of birth outcome taking into consideration the carcinogenic properties of these PAHs; and (3) determine the degree of PAH-related oxidative DNA damage and birth outcome. Among the five tested PAHs, only BaP was carcinogenic; therefore, the levels of the other four probable or possible carcinogenic PAHs (BaA, Ch, BaF, and DBahA) were summed as ∑4-PAHs. Levels of 1-hydroxypyrene (1-HP) were determined in maternal urine samples as a biomarker of PAH internal dose. Urinary cotinine (COT) was measured as an index of smoking. The following markers of oxidative stress were selected: malondialdehyde (MDA) in cord (C-MDA) and maternal (M-MDA) serum and 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) in maternal urine. None of the tested PAHs was found in maternal or cord blood. However, all five PAH compounds were detected in placentas; Ch was the highest (6.582 μg/kg dry wt.), and BaA was the lowest (0.236 μg/kg dry wt.). The mean concentration of urinary 1-HP found in this study was 0.216 ± 0.856 μg/g Cr. After adjusting for gestational age and other confounding variables, regression models revealed an inverse relationship between placental weight, cord length and placental BaP. A similar trend was observed between cord length and ∑4-PAHs in placental tissues. Urinary 1-HP, though, cannot be used as an unequivocal biomarker of PAH exposure, but it can be an appropriate indicator of exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS). The data demonstrate that ETS exposure (as measured by urinary COT) may adversely affect birth outcome as shown by reduced head circumference, birth weight, and birth length, as well as increased cephalization index. The positive relationship between 8-OHdG levels and 1-HP in urine provides evidence of an oxidative stress mechanism. Although this study provides no direct evidence of an association between PAH exposure and DNA damage, increased oxidative stress in the form of lipid peroxidation significantly affected various birth measures. Therefore, there is a need for studies regarding PAH exposure and its associated biological effects to determine the extent of potential fetal damage as well as possible long-term effects, such as cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iman Al-Saleh
- Environmental Health Section, Biological & Medical Research Department, King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre, PO Box: 3354, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
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Zeller J, Ulrich A, Mueller JU, Riegert C, Neuss S, Bruckner T, Triebig G, Speit G. Is individual nasal sensitivity related to cellular metabolism of formaldehyde and susceptibility towards formaldehyde-induced genotoxicity? Mutat Res 2011; 723:11-17. [PMID: 21497203 DOI: 10.1016/j.mrgentox.2011.03.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2011] [Revised: 03/16/2011] [Accepted: 03/21/2011] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
Forty-one volunteers (male non-smokers, aged 32 ± 9.6yrs) were tested for susceptibility towards unspecific nasal irritation (sensitivity towards CO(2)) in order to define subgroups of hypersensitive and hyposensitive subjects. Blood samples were taken and the expression (mRNA level) of the GSH-dependent formaldehyde dehydrogenase gene (FDH, identical to alcohol dehydrogenase 5, ADH5; EC 1.2.1.46) was measured in leukocytes by quantitative real-time RT-PCR with TaqMan probes. FDH is the most important enzyme for the metabolic inactivation of FA. Blood samples were exposed to 150μM formaldehyde (FA) for 2h and the induction of DNA-protein crosslinks (DPX) in leukocytes was measured by means of a modification of the alkaline comet assay (i.e., by assessing the reduction of DNA migration induced by γ-radiation). Removal of DPX was determined by the abolition of FA-induced reduction in DNA migration within 4h after the end of the exposure. Furthermore, the induction of sister chromatid exchange (SCE) in cultured lymphocytes was studied after treatment of whole blood cultures with FA (150μM). A correlation analysis was performed for all parameters tested for the whole study group and for hypersensitive and hyposensitive subgroups. The results indicate that despite large differences in CO(2)-sensitivity, the susceptibility towards nasal irritation was not related to the induction of genotoxic effects (DPX, SCE) in peripheral blood or to the protection of blood cells against FA-induced effects (expression of FDH, repair capacity for FA-induced DPX). There was no correlation between CO(2)-sensitivity and the expression of FDH. There was also no close correlation between the various indicators of cellular sensitivity towards FA-induced genotoxic effects and no subgroups were identified with particular mutagen sensitivity towards FA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jasmin Zeller
- Universität Ulm, Institut für Humangenetik, D - 89069 Ulm, Germany
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Decordier I, Loock KV, Kirsch-Volders M. Phenotyping for DNA repair capacity. MUTATION RESEARCH-REVIEWS IN MUTATION RESEARCH 2010; 705:107-129. [PMID: 20478396 DOI: 10.1016/j.mrrev.2010.05.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2009] [Revised: 05/10/2010] [Accepted: 05/10/2010] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ilse Decordier
- Laboratorium voor Cellulaire Genetica, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium.
| | - Kim Vande Loock
- Laboratorium voor Cellulaire Genetica, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium
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The use of biomarkers for risk assessment: Reporting from the INTARESE/ENVIRISK Workshop in Prague. Int J Hyg Environ Health 2010; 213:395-400. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2010.05.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2010] [Revised: 04/28/2010] [Accepted: 05/07/2010] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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Martínez-Alfaro M, Cárabez-Trejo A, Gallegos-Corona MA, Pedraza-Aboytes G, Hernández-Chan NG, Leo-Amador GE. Thinner inhalation effects on oxidative stress and DNA repair in a rat model of abuse. J Appl Toxicol 2010; 30:226-32. [PMID: 19885856 DOI: 10.1002/jat.1488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Humans can come into contact with thinner by occupational exposure or by intentional inhalation abuse. Numerous studies of workers for genotoxic effects of thinner exposure have yielded conflicting results, perhaps because co-exposure to variable other compounds cannot be avoided in workplace exposure studies. In contrast, there is no data concerning the genotoxic effects of intentional inhalation abuse. The aim of this project was to examine the genotoxic effects of thinner inhalation in an animal model of thinner abuse (rats exposed to 3000 ppm toluene, a high solvent concentration over a very short, 15 min time period, twice a day for 6 weeks). The data presented here provides evidence that thinner inhalation in our experimental conditions is able to induce weight loss, lung abnormalities and oxidative stress. This oxidative stress induces oxidative DNA damage that is not a characteristic feature of genotoxic damage. No significant difference in DNA damage and DNA repair (biomarkers of genotoxicity) in lymphocytes from thinner-treated and control rats was found. Lead treatment was used as a positive control in these assays. Finally, bone marrow was evaluated as a biomarker of cellular alteration associated with thinner inhalation. The observed absence of hemopoietic and genetic toxicity could be explained in part by the absence of benzene, the only carcinogenic component of thinner; however, benzene is no longer a common component of thinner. In conclusion, thinner did not cause genotoxic effects in an experimental model of intentional abuse despite the fact that thinner inhalation induces oxidative stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minerva Martínez-Alfaro
- Departamento de Neurobiología del Desarrollo y Neurofisología, Instituto de Neurobiología, UNAM Campus, Querétaro, México.
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Au WW, Giri AK, Ruchirawat M. Challenge assay: A functional biomarker for exposure-induced DNA repair deficiency and for risk of cancer. Int J Hyg Environ Health 2009; 213:32-9. [PMID: 19818682 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2009.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2009] [Revised: 08/31/2009] [Accepted: 09/09/2009] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
A variety of biomarkers have been used to monitor exposed populations to determine potential health hazards from their exposure to environmental toxic agents. However, the majority of these biomarkers have been focused onto the identification of biological damage from the exposure. Therefore, there is a need to develop functional biomarkers that can identify exposure-induced functional deficiencies. More importantly, these deficiencies should be positioned along pathways that are responsible for the development of specific diseases. One of such pathways belongs to the extensive and complex DNA-repair machinery. The machinery thus becomes a large target for damage from environmental toxic agents. The hypothesis is that damage to any component of a repair pathway will interfere with the pathway-specific repair activities. Therefore, when cells from exposed populations are challenged with a DNA-damaging agent in vitro, the in vivo exposure-induced repair deficiency will be dramatically amplified and the deficiency will be detectable in a challenge assay as increased chromosome aberrations, micronuclei or un-repaired DNA strand breaks. The challenge assay has been used in different laboratories to show that a variety of exposed populations (with exposure to air pollutants, arsenic, benzene, butadiene, cigarette smoke, incense smoke, lead, mercury, pesticides, uranium or xylene but not to low concentrations of air pollutants or butadiene) expressed abnormal challenge response. The predicted health consequences of some of these studies have also been validated. Therefore, the challenge assay is a useful functional biomarker for population studies. Details of the challenge assay and its application will be presented in this review.
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Affiliation(s)
- William W Au
- Department of Preventive Medicine and Community Health, 700 Harborside Drive, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555-1110, USA.
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