Multi-endpoint biological monitoring in combined, carcinogenic occupational exposures

Abstract

We aimed to develop a relevant multi-endpoint biomonitoring system by studying different genotoxicity biomarkers in complex carcinogenic exposures under occupational situations. Altogether 109 workers were followed in five different workplaces. The combined carcinogenic exposures were monitored in the urine and peripheral blood samples using Ames mutagenicity test and cytogenetic analyzes. The different genotoxicity endpoints studied showed different results in the same carcinogenic exposure situations. The urinary mutagenicity tests provided more information and proved to be more sensitive compared to the cytogenetic tests in the majority of cases. In complex exposures multistep biomonitoring panel should be applied, because the exact mechanisms of the combination of single exposing agents are not known. Such a panel should involve monitoring different endpoints, e.g. point mutations, chromosomal mutations. A relatively affordable and rapid testing panel was developed using validated tests as Ames and cytogenetic assays, but its practical use should be confirmed by further investigations.