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DNA damage and repair capacity in workers exposed to low concentrations of benzene
Author(s) -
Lovreglio Piero,
Doria Denise,
Fracasso Maria Enrica,
Barbieri Anna,
Sabatini Laura,
Drago Ignazio,
Violante Francesco S.,
Soleo Leonardo
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
environmental and molecular mutagenesis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 1098-2280
pISSN - 0893-6692
DOI - 10.1002/em.21990
Subject(s) - comet assay , dna damage , dna repair , benzene , toxicology , chemistry , dna , oxidative stress , muconic acid , genotoxicity , deoxyguanosine , biomarker , medicine , toxicity , biology , biochemistry , organic chemistry
DNA damage and cellular repair capacity were studied in 18 male fuel tanker drivers and 13 male filling‐station attendants exposed to low and very low concentrations of benzene, respectively, and compared to 20 males with no occupational exposure (controls). Exposure to airborne benzene was measured using passive personal samplers, and internal doses were assayed through the biomarkers t,t ‐muconic acid, S‐phenylmercapturic acid and urinary benzene. DNA damage was evaluated using tail intensity (TI) determined by the comet assay in peripheral lymphocytes. Urinary 7‐hydro‐8‐oxo‐2’‐deoxyguanosine (8‐oxodG) was measured as a biomarker of oxidative damage. DNA repair kinetics were assessed using the comet assay in lymphocytes sampled 20 and 60 min post H 2 O 2 exposure. Benzene exposure differed significantly between the drivers (median 246.3 µg/m 3 ), attendants (median 13.8 µg/m 3 ), and controls (median 4.1 µg/m 3 ). There were no differences in TI and 8‐oxodG among the three groups, or between smokers and non‐smokers. DNA repair kinetics were similar among the drivers, attendants and controls, although the comet assay on H 2 O 2 ‐damaged lymphocytes after 60 min revealed significantly lower levels of TI only in drivers. The DNA repair process in smokers was similar to that observed in drivers. In conclusion, this study found no relationship between low levels of benzene exposure and DNA damage, although there was evidence that exposure interferes with DNA repair kinetics. The biological impact of this finding on the onset of genotoxic effects in exposed workers has still to be ascertained. Environ. Mol. Mutagen. 57:151–158, 2016. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.