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Urinary excretion of mutagens, thioethers and d-glucaric acid in workers exposed to bitumen fumes

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Summary

The authors carried out biological monitoring of the mutagenic/carcinogenic hazards associated with exposure to bitumen fumes during paving operations, analysing some biological parameters in the urine of a group of exposed workers. The urine samples were studied for mutagenicity by the Ames test and for thioethers concentration. d-Glucaric acid urine excretion was also determined to investigate the enzymatic induction potential of bitumens. Even though, in a previous environmental monitoring phase, a low content of mutagenic/carcinogenic compounds was found in bitumen and air samples, urinary mutagenicity data of exposed workers were statistically higher than those of a group of unexposed subjects. The urinary mutagenicity increased further if exposure to bitumens was associated with cigarette smoking. Thioethers were higher only in subjects exposed simultaneously to bitumens and cigarettes. d-Glucaric acid excretion did not increase significantly. The authors think that this type of coupled environmental and biological monitoring is a valid tool for a better evaluation of the mutagenic/carcinogenic exposure to bitumens or similar complex mixtures.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Hygiene, University of Perugia, Via del Giochetto, I-06100, Perugia, Italy

    R. Pasquini, G. Scassellati Sforzolini, A. Savino & G. Angeli

  2. Chair of Environmental Health, Medicine Faculty, University of Brescia, Via Valsabbina, 19, 1-25124, Brescia, Italy

    S. Monarca

  3. Environmental and Occupational Health Section, Unita' Sanitaria Locale di Perugia, Via Cacciatori delle Alpi, 32, I-06100, Perugia, Italy

    F. A. Bauleo

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  1. R. Pasquini
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  6. G. Angeli
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Pasquini, R., Monarca, S., Scassellati Sforzolini, G. et al. Urinary excretion of mutagens, thioethers and d-glucaric acid in workers exposed to bitumen fumes. Int. Arch Occup Environ Heath 61, 335–340 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00409389

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00409389

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