Abstract
Benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) is a major polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH), it can bind the DNA to produce DNA-adducts, which has major carcinogenic potential. Enzyme-linked immunosorbet assay (ELISA) is the method used to detect these DNA adducts of B[a] P diolepoxide (BPDE) within the living cells. The aim of this study is to evaluate exposure to bitumen fumes, and to B[a]P in asphalt plant workers by measuring the BPDE-DNA adducts in their peripheral white blood cells (WBC), which are considered biological markers for exposure risk assessment.In this study, Hemostatic blood (CBC, AST) were measured, and the levels of BPDE-DNA adducts were measured in DNA samples of WBC obtained from asphalt plant workers in Syria and compared to those measured from a control group. The measurement was performed using BPDE-DNA Adducts ELISA.kit. The sample size was determined to be 50 with 25 asphalt plant workers and 25 healthy volunteers with no occupational exposure to PAHs. The results showed some diseases associated with exposure to asphalt fumes among the workers in the study group and a statistically significant difference in the values of (CBC; WBC, leukocytes, HCT, MCHC and AST) between the study group and the control group. BPDE-DNA adducts were detected in WBC of 11 asphalt plant workers with concentrations ranging between 0 and 2.75 ng/ml and only one individual in the control group with concentration of 0.75 ng/ml. These results indicate significant positive relationship between exposure to the bitumen fumes and formation of BPDE-DNA adducts. BPDE-DNA adducts is potential biomarker for PAHs exposure and likely helpful indicator of PAH-induced DNA damage and possibly carcinogenesis.
Highlights
Workers are exposed during the asphalt industry to bitumen fumes that contain poly aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) [1], organic vapors, silica dust, diesel exhaust, asbestos fibers and coal tar [2].Exposure to bitumen fumes causes headache, fatigue, lack of appetite, eye, skin and bronchitis irritation, coughing, bronchitis, asthma [3], genotoxic effects [4], damaging DNA [5], cancer lung [6], increases the risk of developing bladder cancer [7].Erythrocyte - A Peripheral Biomarker for Infection and Inflammationpolycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) are known environmental pollutants with harmful effect on human health
We examine the relationship between being an asphalt worker and detection of B[a] P diolepoxide (BPDE)-DNA adducts in the white blood cells (WBC), which can be a useful surrogate exposure risk
Laboratory studies showed significantly higher the number of WBC with T-student test among the exposed group compared to the control group (8.72 ± 1.92 and P = 0.015), lymphocytes (32.09 ± 6.99 and P = 0.003). (HCT) and (MCHC) were significantly higher among the study group compared to the control group (P = 0.034 and P < 0.0001, respectively)
Summary
PAHs are known environmental pollutants with harmful effect on human health. B[a]P is formed during incomplete combustion of organic materials and pyrolysis of inorganic compounds [9] B[a]P is found in cigarette smoke [10], cooked food [11], and various combustion gases such as vehicle exhaust [12]. It is generated from some industrial operations such as those of cooking ovens, heavy oil plants [13] and asphalt plants [14]. Given its harmful effects on health, B[a]P was classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (2012) among the highly genotoxic compounds and categorized to “group 1 carcinogenic to humans” [15]
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