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Assessment of carcinogenicity, using PAH-DNA adducts, in workers exposed to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

Evaluación de la carcinogenidad en trabajadores expuestos a los hidrocarburos aromáticos policíclicos con aductos de ADN

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Abstract

Introduction

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) are environmental contaminants that have been of interest in cancer research for a considerable length of time. DNA adduct formation is considered a marker and indicator for exposure to PAH. The aim of this study was to determine PAH-DNA adduct levels in peripheral blood lymphocytes and urine obtained from workers exposed to PAH, and to evaluate tobacco use, GSTM1 and GSTT1 as possible contributory risk factors.

Material and methods

Our study included a random sample of 66 workers exposed to PAH and 49 non-exposed workers.

Results

PAH-DNA adduct levels of exposed workers were lower than that of the non-exposed group (p<0.05). However, current smoking, GSTM1-negatives, and current smoking with GSTM1-negatives were more frequent in the non-exposed group. In addition, non-exposed workers reported exposure to PAH in their current jobs, as compared with the exposed group (p<0.001). Linear regression analysis identified the levels of benzo-[b]-fluoranthene in the working area as the only significant DNA adduct-forming risk factor (p=0.025).

Conclusion

Further research, with an appropriately large sample size, is highly recommended in measuring PAH-DNA adduct levels and evaluating their relationship with the different types of PAH.

Resumen

|Introducción

Los hidrocarburos aromáticos policíclicos (HAP) representan un contaminante ambiental de gran interés en la investigación del cáncer. La formación de aductos de ADN está considerada como un indicador de la exposición a los HAP. El objetivo de este estudio es determinar los niveles de aductos de HAP-ADN en linfocitos sanguíneos y orina en trabajadores expuestos a los HAP, y evaluar sus relaciones con el tabaco, la GSTM1 y la GSTT1 como posibles factores de riesgo.

|Material y métodos

Nuestro estudio incluyó una muestra aleatoria de 66 trabajadores expuestos y 49 no expuestos a los HAP.

|Resultados

Los niveles de aductos de HAP-ADN en los trabajadores expuestos fueron inferiores a los no expuestos (p<0,05). Sin embargo, dentro del grupo de los trabajadores expuestos había más fumadores actuales, GSTM1 negativos y fumadores actuales con GSTM1 negativos. Además, los trabajadores no expuestos informaron exposiciones a los HAP en trabajos en comparación con el grupo de los expuestos (p<0,001). El análisis por regresión lineal identificó los niveles del benzo (b) fluorantene en las áreas de trabajo como el único factor de riesgo significativo para los aductos de ADN (p=0,025).

|Conclusiones

Son recomendables futuros estudios con un tamaño de muestra suficiente para evaluar los niveles de aductos de HAP-ADN y sus relaciones con los diferentes tipos de HAP.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Community and Occupational Medicine. Faculty of Medicine, Suez Canal University, Isamilia, Egypt

    Amira Gamal Abdel-Rahman & Mustafa Abdel-Aziz Mustafa

  2. Department of Community. Environmental and Occupational Medicine. Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt

    Maha M. El Gaafary

  3. Department of Biologic Oncology. National Cancer Institute, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt

    Mohamed Tarek Mansour

  4. Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health. Faculty of Medicine, University of Cordoba, Avda. Menéndez Pidal, s/n, 14004, Cordoba, Spain

    Mohamed Farouk Allam

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  1. Amira Gamal Abdel-Rahman
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  2. Mohamed Farouk Allam
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  5. Mustafa Abdel-Aziz Mustafa
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Correspondence to Mohamed Farouk Allam.

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Abdel-Rahman, A.G., Allam, M.F., El Gaafary, M.M. et al. Assessment of carcinogenicity, using PAH-DNA adducts, in workers exposed to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Rev Oncol 6, 159–164 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02710117

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