Mutation Research/Genetic Toxicology and Environmental Mutagenesis
Examination of various biomarkers measuring genotoxic endpoints from Barcelona airport personnel
Introduction
In the early 19th century, benzene, toluene, xylenes and other alkyl benzenes were shown to be the major constituents of coal tar naptha, a by-product of coal gas manufacture, that was used as a solvent for rubber. The value of the alkyl benzenes and other aromatic hydrocarbons both as solvents and starting materials in many industrial processes was soon realised. In the 20th century, crude oil or petroleum was also shown to be a rich source of aromatics. Vast and diverse applications were found for these valuable chemicals. An extensive literature describes investigations into the toxicology and biochemistry of these compounds 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. Benzene is an established human carcinogen and is genotoxic in vivo 7, 8. Epidemiological data on leukaemia incidence in benzene exposed workers have been used to derive the unit risk, i.e., the risk for a lifetime exposure to 1 μg/m3. Current estimates are in the range from 4×10−6 to 3×10−5 9, 10. The health effects of benzene pollution are consequently a matter of some concern and the reduction of environmental benzene is regarded as a priority goal in the field of environmental safety. Most environmental benzene comes from the use of petroleum and exposure to petroleum fuels and to exhausts from engines operating on gasoline is also considered as possibly carcinogenic to humans [11].
In addition to the hazard to the general population, the consequences of occupational exposure to benzene is a cause for concern and exposure limits to benzene usually above 1 ppm (3.2 mg/m3) as 8 h TWA have been established [12]. However, the possible risks related to low dose exposures (below 1 ppm), such as those associated with fuel delivery are not yet elucidated [13]. Epidemiological studies point to an increased cancer risk in these workers 14, 15. The present study, therefore, investigated the effects on various biomarkers of low level exposure to benzene and related alkyl benzenes in workers from the Barcelona airport by comparison with unexposed controls.
Section snippets
Subjects investigated
Thirty-nine male workers from the Barcelona airport personnel, probably exposed to petroleum derivatives and engine exhausts, were examined. These workers assisted during charge and discharge of the aeroplanes, sometimes even during the activity of refuelling their tanks. A questionnaire was prepared to collect relevant information about confounding factors that can affect the different parameters investigated, as well as information concerning potential exposure at the work place. This group
Results
The characteristics of both control and exposed groups are shown in Table 1. Table 2 shows the levels of benzene, toluene and xylenes measured in the airport during an 8-h workshift by comparison with those previously found in other Barcelona environments [16]. It can be seen that the 8-h TWA levels (mg/m3) of the three compounds for the airport workers are similar to those found in some Barcelona streets with intense moving traffic. Although the control individuals are living in the
Discussion
The lack of a genotoxic effect due to occupational exposure to benzene or jet fuel derivatives in the airport workers, as measured by SCE and MN in this study, was not unexpected in view of the fact that very low exposure levels were recorded for benzene (0.03 ppm), toluene (0.04 ppm), and xylenes at the airport of Barcelona. These levels were lower than those previously measured at petrol stations, and similar to the levels in some streets of Barcelona. Our SCE and MN results are in accordance
Acknowledgements
This investigation was supported in part by the European Union (EU, EV5V-CT92-0221), the Spanish Ministry of Education and Science (CICYT, SAF95-0813) and the Generalitat de Catalunya (CIRIT, SGR95-00512). We are grateful to the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona for supporting M. Pitarque's stay at BIBRA International. We would like to thank T. Amador, A. Corral, and G. Umbert for their expert technical assistance in the processing and scoring of the samples. The collaboration of the Centre de
References (47)
Genetic toxicology of benzene, toluene, xylenes and phenols
Mutat. Res.
(1978)Recent findings on the genetic toxicology of benzene, toluene, xylenes and phenols
Mutat. Res.
(1985)- et al.
SCE analysis in peripheral blood lymphocytes of a group of filling station attendants
Mutat. Res.
(1997) - et al.
Cell kinetics and sister-chromatid exchange frequency in human lymphocytes
Mutat. Res.
(1983) - et al.
No increase in micronuclei frequency in cultured blood lymphocytes from a group of filling station attendants
Mutat. Res.
(1996) - et al.
Induction of micronuclei by five pyrethroid insecticides in whole-blood and isolated human lymphocyte cultures
Mutat. Res.
(1995) - et al.
A simple technique for quantitation of low levels of DNA damage in individual cells
Exp. Cell. Res.
(1988) - et al.
The alkaline single-cell electrophoresis (SCGE) assay applied to the analysis of radiation-induced DNA damage in thyroid cancer patients treated with
Mutat. Res.
(1998) - et al.
The effects of various antioxidants and other modifying agents on oxygen-radical-generated DNA damage in human lymphocytes in the Comet assay
Mutat. Res.
(1994) - et al.
Protein measurement with Folin phenol reagent
J. Biol. Chem.
(1951)
The study of DNA oxidative damage in benzene-exposed workers
Mutat. Res.
Detection of DNA damage in human lymphocytes by alkaline single cell gel electrophoresis after exposure to benzene or benzene metabolites
Mutat. Res.
Aging and smoking increase in the frequency of sister-chromatid exchanges (SCE) in man
Mutat. Res.
Sister chromatid exchange induction in peripheral blood lymphocytes of traffic police workers
Mutat. Res.
Micronucleated lymphocytes in people occupationally exposed to potential environmental contaminants: the age effect
Mutat. Res.
Important variables that influence base-line micronucleus frequency in cytokinesis-blocked lymphocytes—a biomarker for DNA damage in human populations
Mutat. Res.
The advantages and disadvantages of the cytokinesis-block micronucleus method
Mutat. Res.
Monitoring of benzene-exposed workers for genotoxic effects of benzene
Mutat. Res.
An examination of DNA strand breakage in the Comet assay and antioxidant capacity in diabetic patients
Mutat. Res.
Ras oncoproteins in human plasma from lung cancer patients and healthy controls
Mutat. Res.
Genetic effects of benzene, toluene and xylene
IARC Sci. Publ.
The toxicology of benzene
Environ. Health Perspect.
Cited by (101)
Do environmentally relevant concentrations of the neonicotinoid insecticide imidacloprid induce DNA damage and oxidative stress on Cnesterodon decemmaculatus (Jenyns, 1842)?
2023, Environmental Toxicology and PharmacologyTissue distribution and sublethal effects of imidacloprid in the South American grayish baywing (Agelaioides badius)
2021, ChemosphereCitation Excerpt :The DNA damage was visually classified into five categories of damage according to the length of DNA migration: undamaged cells (types 0 and I) and damage cells (types II, III, and IV) (Çavaş and Könen, 2007). A genetic damage index (GDI) was calculated following Pitarque's formula GDI= (type I + 2*type 2 + 3*type 3 + 4*type IV)/(Σ type 0-IV) (Pitarque et al., 1999). A total of 100 cells per bird were analyzed for DNA damage.
Histopathological, genotoxic, and behavioral damages induced by manganese (II) in adult zebrafish
2020, ChemosphereCitation Excerpt :The analysis was performed by categorizing, on average, 100 cells per animal according to the comet tail size, ranging from 0 (no genetic damage, i.e. no tail) to IV (maximum genetic damage) (Fig. 1). Data were expressed by calculating the genetic damage index, in which the total number of cells of each class is multiplied by the respective value of the class (Pitarque et al., 1999), so the index value can vary from 0 (all normal cells) to 400 (maximum damage in all cells). Samples that differed from the control group would be considered genotoxic.
Entrapment of TiO <inf>2</inf> and ZnO powders in alginate beads: Photocatalytic and reuse efficiencies for dye solutions and toxicity effect for DNA damage
2019, Environmental Technology and InnovationSono-assisted electrocoagulation and cross-flow membrane processes for brewery wastewater treatment
2018, Journal of Water Process Engineering