The carcinogenic risk of ethene (ethylene)

Effects of compressed unsaturated hydrocarbon gases on yeast growth

The effect of compressed unsaturated hydrocarbon gases on the growth of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae was investigated by microcalorimetry. The growth thermograms showed that unsaturated hydrocarbon gases inhibited yeast growth. As an approach to determining the comparative toxicity of unsaturated hydrocarbon gases, we determined the 50% inhibitory pressure (IP(50)) and the minimum inhibitory pressure (MIP). On the basis of the IP(50) and MIP values, the inhibitory potency of the gases increased in the order ethylene < propylene < 1-butene. Additionally, scanning electron microscopy showed that cells treated with unsaturated hydrocarbon gases were damaged, including invagination of the cell surface.

Dephenylation of the rubber chemical N-phenyl-2-naphthylamine to carcinogenic 2-naphthylamine: a classical problem revisited

N-phenyl-2-naphthylamine (PBNA) represents an example of a suspected carcinogen that is found negative in mutagenicity and clastogenicity testing as well as in long-term animal carcinogenicity bioassays in several species, but for which a carcinogenic risk cannot be excluded because of its metabolic conversion to the known human carcinogen 2-naphthylamine. Also, epidemiologic studies failed to indicate an elevated bladder cancer risk in humans occupationally exposed to PBNA. The amounts of 2-naphthylamine found in the urine of different species including humans after exposure to PBNA indicate unequivocally that PBNA is dephenylated to some extent. These are not explained by the 2-naphthylamine impurities in technical-grade PBNA. To explain the metabolic dephenylation process, it has been suggested that PBNA is metabolized by cytochrome P-450 (CYP) enzymes to the phenolic derivative 4'-hydroxy-N-phenyl-2-naphthylamine, followed by its further oxidation to the quinone imine, which subsequently hydrolyses to form the dephenylation product 2-naphthylamine. Phenolic metabolites from the initial CYP-mediated activation step are rapidly conjugated. Quantitatively, dephenylation of PBNA to 2-naphthylamine is a minor pathway. The dog represents an animal model that appears to approximate the human metabolism and biological activation of PBNA. Based on published data, a worst-case scenario indicates that about 1% of total PBNA taken up is transferred into 2-naphthylamine. However, in vitro as well as in vivo findings with PBNA may point to a significantly smaller conversion rate, as metabolites anticipated from the metabolism of 2-naphthylamine were not detected so far. The assumption, which may well be an overestimation, is compatible with findings in animal experiments, and explains the lack of direct evidence of carcinogenicity of PBNA in both experimental and epidemiological studies.

Effects of ethylene oxide and ethylene inhalation on DNA adducts, apurinic/apyrimidinic sites and expression of base excision DNA repair genes in rat brain, spleen, and liver

Ethylene oxide (EO) is an important industrial chemical that is classified as a known human carcinogen (IARC, Group 1). It is also a metabolite of ethylene (ET), a compound that is ubiquitous in the environment and is the most used petrochemical. ET has not produced evidence of cancer in laboratory animals and is "not classifiable as to its carcinogenicity to humans" (IARC, Group 3). The mechanism of carcinogenicity of EO is not well characterized, but is thought to involve the formation of DNA adducts. EO is mutagenic in a variety of in vitro and in vivo systems, whereas ET is not. Apurinic/apyrimidinic sites (AP) that result from chemical or glycosylase-mediated depurination of EO-induced DNA adducts could be an additional mechanism leading to mutations and chromosomal aberrations. This study tested the hypothesis that EO exposure results in the accumulation of AP sites and induces changes in expression of genes for base excision DNA repair (BER). Male Fisher 344 rats were exposed to EO (100 ppm) or ET (40 or 3000 ppm) by inhalation for 1, 3 or 20 days (6h/day, 5 days a week). Animals were sacrificed 2h after exposure for 1, 3 or 20 days as well as 6, 24 and 72 h after a single-day exposure. Experiments were performed with tissues from brain and spleen, target sites for EO-induced carcinogenesis, and liver, a non-target organ. Exposure to EO resulted in time-dependent increases in N7-(2-hydroxyethyl)guanine (7-HEG) in brain, spleen, and liver and N7-(2-hydroxyethyl)valine (7-HEVal) in globin. Ethylene exposure also induced 7-HEG and 7-HEVal, but the numbers of adducts were much lower. No increase in the number of aldehydic DNA lesions, an indicator of AP sites, was detected in any of the tissues between controls and EO-, or ET-exposed animals, regardless of the duration or strength of exposure. EO exposure led to a 3-7-fold decrease in expression of 3-methyladenine-DNA glycosylase (Mpg) in brain and spleen in rats exposed to EO for 1 day. Expression of 8-oxoguanine DNA glycosylase, Mpg, AP endonuclease (Ape), polymerase beta (Pol beta) and alkylguanine methyltransferase were increased by 20-100% in livers of rats exposed to EO for 20 days. The only effects of ET on BER gene expression were observed in brain, where Ape and Pol beta expression were increased by less than 20% after 20 days of exposure to 3000 ppm. These data suggest that DNA damage induced by exposure to EO is repaired without accumulation of AP sites and is associated with biologically insignificant changes in BER gene expression in target organs. We conclude that accumulation of AP sites is not a likely primary mechanism for mutagenicity and carcinogenicity of EO.

Carcinogenicity categorization of chemicals-new aspects to be considered in a European perspective

Existing systems of classification of carcinogens are a matter of discussion, world-wide. There is agreement that it should be distinguished between genotoxic and non-genotoxic chemicals. The risk assessment approach used for non-genotoxic chemicals is similar among different regulatory bodies: insertion of an uncertainty (safety) factor permits the derivation of permissible exposure levels at which no relevant human cancer risks are anticipated. For genotoxic carcinogens, case studies of chemicals point to a whole array of possibilities. Positive data of chromosomal effects only, in the absence of mutagenicity, may support the characterization of a compound that produces carcinogenic effects only at high, toxic doses. Non-DNA-reactive genotoxins, such as topoisomerase inhibitors or inhibitors of the spindle apparatus are considered in this respect. In such cases, arguments are in favour of the existence of "practical" thresholds. Taking existing concepts together, it is proposed to basically distinguish between "perfect" and "practical" thresholds. There is a wide consensus that for non-DNA-reactive genotoxins such as aneugens (aneuploidy, chromosome loss, non-disjunction) thresholds should be defined. It is being discussed as to whether the identification of possible threshold effects should also include other mechanisms of genotoxicity, in addition to aneugenic effects. Specific mechanisms of clastogenicity have been repeatedly addressed as also having thresholds, such as topoisomerase II poisons or mechanisms based on reactive oxygen. Oxidative stress as an important mechanism is triggered by exposure to exogenous factors such as ultraviolet (UV) and ionizing radiation, anoxia and hyperoxia, and by chemicals producing reactive oxygen species. The idea is receiving increased support that reactive oxygen species (ROS)-mediated processes of carcinogenesis have practical thresholds. Since reactive oxygen species are genotoxic in principle, questions arise whether chemicals that increase ROS production will superimpose to an endogenously produced background level of DNA lesions, related to mechanisms that may result in non-linear dose-effect relationships. The existence of "endogenous" DNA adducts has been generally accepted, and possible regulatory implications of the presence of endogenous carcinogens have been discussed. It is now becoming evident that a diversity of methods of carcinogenic risk extrapolation to low doses must be considered, dependent on the mode of action. Although there is an increasing international awareness of these developments, the system of classification of carcinogens of the European Union still remains static. This should be changed, as the philosophy of separation of a strictly sequential "hazard assessment" and "risk assessment" appears out-of-date.

Genotoxic effects of ethylene oxide, propylene oxide and epichlorohydrin in humans: update review (1990-2001)

Ethylene oxide (EtO), propylene oxide (PO) and epichlorohydrin (ECH) are important industrial chemicals widely used as intermediates for various synthetic products. EtO and PO are also environmental pollutants. In this review we summarize data published during the period 1990-2001 concerning both the genotoxic and carcinogenic effects of these epoxides in humans. The use of DNA and hemoglobin adducts as biomarkers of exposure and the role of polymorphism, as well as confounding factors, are discussed. We have also included recent in vitro data comprising genotoxic effects induced by EtO, PO and ECH in mammalian cells. The uncertainties regarding cancer risk estimation still persist, in spite of the large database collected.

Carcinogenicity and genotoxicity of ethylene oxide: new aspects and recent advances

Long-term inhalation studies in rodents have presented unequivocal evidence of experimental carcinogenicity of ethylene oxide, based on the formation of malignant tumors at multiple sites. However, despite a considerable body of epidemiological data only limited evidence has been obtained of its carcinogenicity in humans. Ethylene oxide is not only an important exogenous toxicant, but it is also formed from ethylene as a biological precursor. Ethylene is a normal body constituent; its endogenous formation is evidenced by exhalation in rats and in humans. Consequently, ethylene oxide must also be regarded as a physiological compound. The most abundant DNA adduct of ethylene oxide is 7-(2-hydroxyethyl)guanine (HOEtG). Open questions are the nature and role of tissue-specific factors in ethylene oxide carcinogenesis and the physiological and quantitative role of DNA repair mechanisms. The detection of remarkable individual differences in the susceptibility of humans has promoted research into genetic factors that influence the metabolism of ethylene oxide. With this background it appears that current PBPK models for trans-species extrapolation of ethylene oxide toxicity need to be refined further. For a cancer risk assessment at low levels of DNA damage, exposure-related adducts must be discussed in relation to background DNA damage as well as to inter- and intraindividual variability. In rats, subacute ethylene oxide exposures on the order of 1 ppm (1.83 mg/m3) cause DNA adduct levels (HOEtG) of the same magnitude as produced by endogenous ethylene oxide. Based on very recent studies the endogenous background levels of HOEtG in DNA of humans are comparable to those that are produced in rodents by repetitive exogenous ethylene oxide exposures of about 10 ppm (18.3 mg/m3). Experimentally, ethylene oxide has revealed only weak mutagenic effects in vivo, which are confined to higher doses. It has been concluded that long-term human occupational exposure to low airborne concentrations to ethylene oxide, at or below current occupational exposure limits of 1 ppm (1.83 mg/m3), would not produce unacceptable increased genotoxic risks. However, critical questions remain that need further discussions relating to the coherence of animal and human data of experimental data in vitro vs. in vivo and to species-specific dynamics of DNA lesions.