Oxidative DNA Due to Occupational Exposure to Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons among Coal Tar Workers

Abstract

Introduction: Polycyclic Aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are compounds of occupational and environmental concern as they are toxic, carcinogenic, mutagenic, and/or teratogenic (causing birth defects). Occupational exposure during coal tar distillation process may cause numerous symptoms and diseases through generation of coal tar fumes that contain principally polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Benzopyrene is the most important member of those PAHs. Aim of work: To assess the health effect due to occupational exposure to PAHs; specifically their effects on DNA damage and oxidative stress status among coal tar workers. Materials and methods: A comparative cross sectional study was carried out on two groups, exposed and unexposed group. The exposed group was consisted of 40 coal tar workers and the unexposed group was also composed of 40 matched individuals not occupationally exposed to coal tar .All examined individuals were subjected to full occupational history and estimation of 1-hydroxypyrene (1-OHPyrene) level in urine, blood levels of Benzopyrene-DNA adducts, oxidative stress enzymes (superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase), Cytochrome P450 and Complete blood picture. Results: There was a statistically significant higher urinary level of 1-OHPyrene and higher blood levels of benzopyrene DNA adducts at the exposed workers compared to unexposed ones, in the other hand there were significant reduction in serum levels of superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase among workers exposed to PAHs compared to the unexposed group that might be consumed by oxidative stress status. Conclusion: Oxidative stress and DNA damage might be one of the pathogenesis that may cause adverse health effects associated with occupational exposure to PAHs among coal tar workers.