Investigations of the frequency of DNA strand breakage and cross-linking and of sister chromatid exchange in the lymphocytes of electric welders exposed to chromium- and nickel-containing fumes

Summary A total of 39 electric welders exposed to chromium and nickel were compared with 18 controls standardized for age, smoking habits and sex with respect to the frequency of sister chromatid exchange (SCE) and of DNA strand breakage and cross-linking (measured by the method of alkaline filter elution) in their blood lymphocytes. A significant correlation was found between the frequency of SCE and of individual DNA strand breakage and the concentration of chromium in the urine. Less DNA from the welders than from the control group was eluted through the two filter types used (polycarbonate and polyvinylidene fluoride filters). This must be interpreted as resulting from the presence of DNA-protein cross-links, which has the secondary effect of leading to a relative reduction in the measurable frequency of strand breakage amongst the welders. The present results are in good agreement with in vitro and in vivo investigations that confirm the importance of DNA-protein cross-links for the carcinogenic effect of chromium.     

DNA-protein cross-links and sister chromatid exchange frequencies in lymphocytes and hydroxyethyl mercapturic acid in urine of ethylene oxide-exposed hospital workers

The lymphocytes of 25 hospital workers exposed to ethylene oxide and of a standardized control group were investigated for DNA damage (measured by alkaline filter elution) and sister chromatid exchange (SCE) frequencies. Additionally, the excretion of hydroxyethyl mercapturic acid (HEMA) in the 24-h urine of ten workers and ten control persons was determined. The peak levels of ethylene oxide in air during the first 8 min after opening of the sterilization unit were measured. Peak levels of ethylene oxide in the air of up to 417 ppm after opening of the sterilization unit were detected. In the alkaline filter elution assay we found significantly reduced elution rates in the exposed workers, indicating DNA-protein cross-links. The reduction of the elution rates through HVLP filters correlated significantly with the exposure classification (low, medium, high) (r = –0.45, P < 0.05) and the ethylene oxide peak level after opening of the sterilization unit (r = –0.42, P < 0.05). The SCE frequencies in the standardized control group were significantly elevated. With respect to (n = 78) historic control SCE values of our institute, the SCE values of the disinfectors were not significantly elevated (6.54 vs 6.27). The ethylene oxide-exposed workers did not have a greater percentage of high-frequency SCE cells. The mean HEMA concentration in the urine of the exposed workers was significantly elevated, but there were wide variations in HEMA concentrations and no correlation to ethylene oxide exposure. We conclude that the alkaline filter elution assay may be a sensitive parameter for monitoring the genotoxic damage in lymphocytes of ethylene oxide-exposed workers. Determination of the HEMA concentration in urine may be suitable for the differentiation between ethylene oxide-exposed and nonexposed groups, but not for individual biomonitoring. The result of the SCE determination indicates that the standardization of control groups with respect to sex, age, and smoking habit seems unsatisfactory. Therefore, it is recommended that in further studies control groups be constructed with respect to additional lifestyle factors. Additionally, enzyme polymorphisms — especially of glutathione transferase in the case of ethylene oxide exposure — should be taken into consideration and controlled.     

焦化作业工人淋巴细胞HSP70表达及作用

目的探讨热应激蛋白70（HSP70）在焦炉工人外周血淋巴细胞的表达水平及其意义。方法用微核试验和碱性单细胞凝胶电泳技术（彗星试验）检测淋巴细胞的染色体畸变和DNA损伤情况，用蛋白印迹（westem blot）法检测淋巴细胞HSP70表达水平。结果外周血淋巴细胞微核率和彗星尾长在高暴露组显著高于对照组，差异有统计学意义（P〈0．05）；HSP70的表达水平在高暴露组、低暴露组和对照组分别为1．12±0．36。1．34±0．83。0．89±0．40，低暴露组明显高于对照组（P〈0．05）；高暴露组工人的外周血淋巴细胞HSP70的表达水平与彗星尾长呈负相关（r=-0．416，P=0．03）。结论焦炉作业环境可诱发外周血淋巴细胞HSP70蛋白表达，较高水平HSP70的表达对细胞DNA损伤具有保护作用。     

Frequency of sister chromatid exchange and chromosomal aberrations in asbestos cement workers.

Exposure to asbestos minerals has been associated with a wide variety of adverse health effects including lung cancer, pleural mesothelioma, and cancer of other organs. It was shown previously that asbestos samples collected from a local asbestos factory enhanced sister chromatid exchanges (SCEs) and chromosomal aberrations in vitro using human lymphocytes. In the present study, 22 workers from the same factory and 12 controls were further investigated. Controls were matched for age, sex, and socioeconomic state. The peripheral blood lymphocytes were cultured and harvested at 48 hours for studies of chromosomal aberrations and at 72 hours for SCE frequency determinations. Asbestos workers had a raised mean SCE rate and increased numbers of chromosomal aberrations compared with a control population. Most of the chromosomal aberrations were chromatid gap and break types.     

Assessment of potential damage to DNA in urine of coke oven workers: an assay of unscheduled DNA synthesis.

OBJECTIVES: A study was conducted in coke oven workers to evaluate the biological consequences of the exposure of these workers, particularly production of potential genotoxic factors. METHODS: 60 coke oven workers and 40 controls were recruited in the same iron and steel works. Exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) was assessed by job and measurement of 1-hydroxypyrene (1OHP) in urine samples. An unscheduled DNA synthesis assay was performed on rat pleural mesothelial cells used as a test system to evaluate the effect of the workers' filtered urine on the DNA repair capacity of rat cells to determine whether DNA damaging agents are present in the urine of these workers. RESULTS: Urinary concentrations of 1OHP ranged from 0.06 to 24.2 (mean (SD) 2.1 (3.6)) mumol/mol creatinine in exposed coke oven workers, and from 0.01 to 0.9 in controls (0.12 (0.15)). These high concentrations in coke oven workers reflected recent exposure to PAHs and were in agreement with the assessment of exposure by job. No significant difference was found between coke oven workers and controls in the DNA repair level of rat cells treated with urine samples. However, the rat cell repair capacity decreased with increasing 1OHP concentrations in the exposed population (r = -0.28, P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: As high concentrations of 1OHP were found in the urine of some workers, a more stringent control of exposures to PAHs in the workplace is required. Exposure to PAHs was not associated with a clear cut modification of the urinary excretion of DNA damaging factors in this test, as shown by the absence of increased unscheduled DNA synthesis in rat cells. However, impairment of some repair mechanisms by urinary constituents is suspected.     

Sister chromatid exchange and chromosomal breakage in pentachlorophenol (PCP) exposed workers

Summary A cytogenetic study was performed on 20 healthy workers exposed to pentachlorophenol (PCP) in concentrations ranging from 1.2 to 180 g/m³ (Maximum Concentration at the workplace is 500 g/m³) for 3 to 34 years. PCP was determined in the blood plasma of all probands, yielding concentrations between 23 and 775 g/l (Biological Tolerance Value is 1000 g/1). In vitro PCP up to 90 mg/l was added to phytohaemagglutinin stimulated lymphocytes of normal healthy donors without any effect on sister chromatid exchange (SCE) or chromosomal aberrations (CA), whereas a slowdown of cell proliferation could be detected in the presence of 60 mg PCP/l. In vivo we neither observed a relation between PCP concentrations and the number of SCE nor an increase of CA.     

Aromatic DNA adducts in white blood cells of coke workers

Summary White blood cell DNA adducts were measured in coke workers, local controls and countryside controls using the ³²P-postlabelling technique. The method detected aromatic adducts including those formed by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Coke workers are heavily exposed to PAHs particularly when working at the batteries. A difference in adduct levels was noted between the coke workers at the battery as compared to other jobs. The adduct levels in the non-battery were higher than those in the countryside controls.     

焦炉工人外周血淋巴细胞热休克蛋白72水平及与DNA损伤的关系

目的研究焦炉逸散物对焦炉工人外周血淋巴细胞热休克蛋白72（Hsp72）水平的影响及与DNA损伤的关系，探讨Hsp72在细胞损伤保护中的意义。方法选取267名焦炉工人和30名对照，以Western blot法检测外周血淋巴细胞Hsp72的水平，彗星试验检测DNA损伤水平，个体采样采集作业环境空气样本，高效液相色谱法测定环境苯并[a]芘浓度。结果高暴露组工人外周血淋巴细胞Hsp72水平（G±SG）和Olive尾矩（G±SG）分别为1．24±0．42和4．49±1．24，明显高于低暴露组（1．01±0．35和2．99±1．10）和对照组（0．85±0．34和2．40±1．00），差异有统计学意义（P〈0．05）。以全体研究对象Hsp72中位数为界值，将研究对象分为Hsp72高表达组和低表达组，Hsp72高表达的人数相对比率在对照组、低暴露组、高暴露组分别为36．7％、43．1％和58．3％，呈逐渐增高趋势，差异有统计学意义（P=0．003）。在Hsp72高表达组，Hsp72表达水平随着暴露等级升高而升高，其中高暴露组与对照组的差异有统计学意义（P〈0．05），但各组之间Olive尾矩的差异无统计学意义（P〉0．05）。在Hsp72低表达组中，各组Hsp72水平的差异无统计学意义（P〉0．05），而Olive尾矩随暴露等级升高而升高，其中高暴露组与低暴露组和对照组比较，差异有统计学意义（P〈0．01），且明显高于Hsp72高表达组的高暴露组工人。高暴露组Hsp72水平与Olive尾矩呈负相关（r=0．503，P〈0．01）。结论焦炉逸散物可诱导焦炉工人外周血淋巴细胞Hsp72水平升高，Hsp72对细胞DNA损伤具有保护作用。     

Association between plasma BPDE-Alb adduct concentrations and DNA damage of peripheral blood lymphocytes among coke oven workers

Objectives

Coke oven emissions (COE) containing polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) can induce both benzo[a]pyrene‐r‐7, t‐8, t‐9,c‐10‐tetrahydotetrol‐albumin (BPDE‐Alb) adducts and DNA damage. However, the relation between these biomarkers for early biological effects is not well documented in coke oven workers.

Methods

In this study, the authors recruited 207 male workers exposed to COE and 102 controls not exposed to COE in the same steel plant in northern China. They measured BPDE‐Alb adduct concentrations in plasma with reverse‐phase high performance liquid chromatography and DNA damage in peripheral blood lymphocytes with alkaline comet assay.

Results

The results showed that the median concentration of BPDE‐Alb adducts in the exposed group (34.36 fmol/mg albumin) was significantly higher than that in the control group (21.90 fmol/mg albumin, p = 0.012). The mean Olive tail moment (Olive TM) of DNA damage in the exposed and control groups were 1.20 and 0.63, respectively (p = 0.000). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that the odds ratio (OR) for BPDE‐Alb adduct and Olive TM associated with the exposure were 1.72 (95% CI 1.06 to 2.81) and 1.96 (95% CI 1.20 to 3.19), respectively. These results show significant correlations between the concentrations of BPDE‐Alb adduct and Olive TM levels in exposed group (r = 0.235, p = 0.001) but not in control group (r = 0.093, p = 0.353).

Conclusion

The results suggest that occupational exposure to COE may induce both BPDE–Alb adducts and DNA damage in the lymphocytes of coke oven workers and that these two markers are useful for monitoring exposure to COE in the workplace.Coke oven workers are exposed to coke oven emissions (COE) that contain a wide variety of volatile organic solvents and particulates, especially polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs).¹ Epidemiological studies suggest an aetiological link between carcinogenic PAHs exposure and lung cancer risk in coke oven workers exposed to COE, and coke oven workers were found to have a three‐ to sevenfold increased risk for developing lung cancer.^1,2Benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P), the most potent and well‐studied carcinogen in PAHs mixtures, has been used as an indicator for carcinogenic PAHs.^3,4 The metabolic activation of B[a]P by cytochromes P450 produces 7,8‐dihydroxy‐9,10‐epoxy‐7,8,9,10‐tetrahydrobenzo[a]pyrene (BPDE), the ultimate carcinogenic form that can bind covalently to DNA and proteins.⁵ Therefore, both DNA and protein adducts are thought to be biologically effective dose biomarkers of PAHs.⁶ There are a number of published reports on DNA adducts in workers exposed to PAHs.^7,8 Although DNA adducts determined using DNA from white blood cells may not reflect the levels of DNA damage in the target tissues,⁹ DNA from the target tissues is usually not readily accessible in human biomonitoring. The albumin adducts in blood are considered a surrogate biomarker of the effective dose of exposure and are not considered to be directly involved in carcinogenesis,¹⁰ because they represent only one month exposure within the half‐life of the albumin.¹¹The carcinogenicity induced by PAHs compounds is believed to be initiated by DNA damage.¹² A wide variety of non‐bulky base damage and single‐strand breaks are formed during metabolic activation of PAHs and involved in PAHs carcinogenesis,^13,14 and these types of DNA damage can be detected by comet assay and used as a marker of early biological effects of DNA‐damaging agents in the living environments and occupational workplaces.^15,16,17 Specifically, the alkaline comet assay (pH>13) can detect DNA strand breaks, alkali‐labile sites, and incomplete excision repair sites.¹⁸ However, the published results of the relation between COE exposure and DNA damage in the lymphocytes measured by comet assay are not consistent.^{19,20,21,22,23} For example, some investigations have shown that there was a significant increase in DNA damage in workers exposed to COE compared with unexposed controls.^19,20,22 However, others^21,23 did not find any effect of occupational exposure on the levels of DNA damage measured with the comet assay, possibly due to small sample sizes in these studies.In the exposure‐to‐disease pathogenic pathway, biomarkers that can provide information of exposure to carcinogenic agents (biomarkers of exposure) and early changes caused by the agents (biomarkers of effect) are needed in epidemiological studies of cancer risk. However, the levels of exposure biomarkers and their associations with early biological effects in coke oven workers are not well documented. Some authors have reported significant association between biomarkers of internal dose (1‐hydroxypyrene) and effect biomarkers (comet assay, sister chromatid exchanges, micronuclei, chromosomal aberrations, and 8‐oxo‐7, 8‐dihydro‐2''‐deoxyguanosine) for coke oven workers exposed to PAHs,^20,22,23 but these were not confirmed by other studies.^21,26 One reason for this inconsistency is the levels of 1‐hydroxypyrene revealing recent exposure to COE or different sample size (from 83 to 217 subjects included). A positive association between biologically effective‐dose biomarkers (aromatic‐DNA adducts) with effect biomarkers (8‐oxo‐7, 8‐dihydro‐2''‐deoxyguanosine) among 149 coke oven workers was previously reported.²⁶ To our knowledge, there was no reported investigation on the correlation between BPDE‐Alb adduct concentrations and DNA damage in lymphocytes in coke oven workers, although these two biomarkers were individually applied in some occupational biomonitoring. Therefore, we further assessed whether occupational exposure to COE resulted in high concentrations of BPDE–Alb adducts and DNA damage and their possible correlation in 207 male workers exposed to COE and 102 male unexposed controls.     

尿中2-萘酚作为多环芳烃接触水平的生物监测指标研究

目的 探讨尿中2-萘酚作为焦炉工多环芳烃接触水平生物监测指标的可行性.方法 以某市钢铁炼焦制气厂109名工人和50名本厂机关工作人员为对象,收集周末班后尿20ml,用改良的碱解-高效液相色谱法测定尿中2-萘酚.焦炉作业环境多环芳烃的车间空气监测结果以苯并(a)芘的浓度水平表示.用单因素方差分析、x2检验和spearman 等级相关分析.结果 尿中2-萘酚浓度炉顶工、炉侧工、炉底工和对照组分别为(11.32±4.82)、(9.82±5.11)、(5.24±4.97)和(2.97±2.36)μnol/mol Cr,呈炉顶>炉侧>炉底>对照组的趋势;尿中2-萘酚浓度与多环芳烃接触水平呈正相关关系(r=0.435,P<0.001).结论 焦炉工尿中2-萘酚水平可有效地反映个体短期多环芳烃接触的内剂量水平,可作为焦炉工多环芳烃接触水平的生物监测指标.     

Sister chromatid exchange analysis in lymphocytes of workers exposed to hexavalent chromium.

To investigate the usefulness of sister chromatid exchange (SCE) analysis in lymphocytes as an indicator for mutagenic effects after in vivo exposure to hexavalent chromium (Cr), SCE frequency was analysed in lymphocytes of 44 Cr platers occupationally exposed to hexavalent Cr and 47 controls. Although urinary Cr analysis confirmed that the Cr platers were exposed to Cr, no effects of the exposure on SCE frequency were found. Smokers, both Cr platers and controls, had a significantly higher SCE frequency than non-smokers. These results suggest that SCE analysis in human lymphocytes is not a good indicator of possible mutagenic effects of exposure to hexavalent Cr.     

尼古丁乙酰胆碱受体基因多态性与焦炉工DNA损伤的关联性

目的 探讨尼古丁乙酰胆碱受体的CHRNA3-CHRNB4-CHRNA5基因簇多态性与焦炉工DNA损伤的联系.方法 选择中国北方某焦化厂的309名工人作为研究对象,按照血浆中苯并(a)芘二氢二醇环氧化物(BPDE)-白蛋白加合物水平,将研究对象分为高暴露组(154人)和低暴露组(155人),使用健康体检调查表收集个人健康信息,采用碱性单细胞凝胶电泳技术评价淋巴细胞DNA损伤,基质辅助激光解吸电离飞行时间质谱技术检测基因多态性,使用Phase v2.1.1软件计算单体型对.结果 高浓度多环芳烃暴露组工人外周血淋巴细胞彗星尾矩(OTM)值为1.23±1.05,低暴露组OTM值为0.80±1.07,两组比较,差异有统计学意义(P＜0.01).在高暴露组中,CHRNA3 -CHRNB4-CHRNA5基因簇的rs667282 CC基因型携带者外周血淋巴细胞的OTM值(1.64±0.17)明显高于CT和CT+TT基因型携带者(0.95±0.13和1.09±0.11),差异有统计学意义(P＜0.01);rs12910984 GG基因型携带者外周血淋巴细胞的OTM值(1.60±0.17)明显高于AG和AG+AA基因型携带者(0.92±0.13和1.07±0.10),差异有统计学意义(P＜0.01).单体型对的分析结果显示,在高暴露组中,人群中分布最广的TA/CG单体型对携带者OTM值最低(0.89±0.13),TA/TA和CG/CG单体型对携带者OTM值分别为1.35±0.17和1.64±0.17,TA/TA和CG/CG单体型对携带者的OTM值明显高于TA/CG单体型对携带者,差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05).在低暴露组中,没有发现该基因簇多态性与DNA损伤之间的关联.结论 CHRNA3-CHRNB4-CHRNA5基因簇多态性与焦炉工DNA损伤程度有关联.暴露于高浓度多环芳烃时,携带rs667282位点CC基因型的个体DNA损伤程度较其他基因型携带者高;携带rs12910984位点GG基因型的个体DNA损伤程度较其他基因型携带者高.为进一步阐明CHRNA3-CHRNB4-CHRNA5基因簇在肺癌发生中的作用提供了新的证据.     

The effects of thymol on sister chromatid exchange,chromosome aberration and micronucleus in human lymphocytes

The genotoxic effects of thymol were investigated in human peripheral lymphocytes treated with 25, 50, 75, and 100 μg/ml concentrations of thymol for 24 and 48 h treatment periods by using sister chromatid exchange (SCE), chromosome aberration (CA), and micronucleus (MN) tests. Nuclear division index (NDI), replication index (RI), and mitotic index (MI) were also calculated in order to determine the cytotoxicity of thymol. Thymol significantly increased the SCE, especially at the lower concentrations. Thymol also increased the SCE at the highest concentrations without statistical significance. Thymol induced both the structural CA and frequency of MN at all concentrations. Thymol dose-dependently decreased the NDI for two treatment periods. Thymol decreased the RI for the 24 h treatment time without any statistical significance. However, thymol decreased the RI for the 48 h treatment time in a dose-dependent manner. Thymol also decreased the MI at the higher concentration without dose-dependent effect.     

长期饮用不同浓度水氟人群外周血淋巴细胞SCE频率分析

报道了在正常营养与营养不足状态下,长期接触不同浓度水氟的人群外周血淋巴细胞姊妹染色单体交换(SCE)频率,以评价氟对人群的遗传毒性危险度。调查的人群组分为:0.2、1.0和4.8mg/L三个不同的饮水氟水平,每一组水氟浓度又分为正常营养与营养不足两组,共6个组。这些农民长期居住于该地区并饮用该氟浓度的水,年龄为40岁以上。结果表明,高浓度水氟未引起人群SCE频率增加,即本研究未发现氟的遗传毒性作用。     

Biomonitoring of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in highly exposed coke plant workers by measurement of urinary phenanthrene and pyrene metabolites (phenols and dihydrodiols)

Summary A filter combination consisting of an impregnated glass fibre and a control filter was used for the collection of air samples in which gaseous and particulate polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were determined. To estimate the loss of lower boiling PAHs, d₁₀-phenanthrene was applied as internal standard. A simple, well-reproducible method for the determination of 1-, 2-, 3-, 4- and 9-hydroxyphenanthrene, 1,2-, 3,4- and 9,10 dihydroxydihydrophenanthrene, 1-hydroxypyrene and 1,2-dihydroxy-1,2-dihydropyrene is described. By means of personal air samplers the exposure to PAHs of four coke plant employees working at different locations was measured over 4 days. Simultaneously the 24-h urine was collected and stored frozen until analysed. The main excretion product of pyrene is a 1-hydroxypyrene conjugate, whereas phenanthrene is excreted predominantly as dihydrodiol conjugate. As expected, workers on the battery topside were exposed the most and accordingly excreted by far the highest amounts of PAHs. Up to 34.0 g phenanthrol conjugates (total of all isomeric phenols) and 195.5 g dihydrodiol conjugates (total of all isomeric dihydrodiols) were excreted in the 24-h urine (mean of 4 days). The metabolite profiles of five isomeric phenanthrene phenols and three isomeric dihydrodiols exhibited only small percentage variations within one individual whereas significant interindividual differences were observed. These findings may indicate a genetically determined enzyme pattern responsible for the metabolic conversion of PAHs.This paper is dedicated to Professor Dr. R. Preußmann on the occasion of his 65th birthday     

ERCC4基因遗传变异对焦炉工外周血淋巴细胞DNA损伤的影响

目的探讨焦炉作业工人核苷酸切除修复交叉互补组4基因（excision repair cross complementation group4，ERCC4）多态性和外周血淋巴细胞DNA损伤的关联。方法选择某焦化厂246名焦炉作业工人和127名对照者，运用彗星试验评价外周血淋巴细胞DNA损伤；根据Hapmap数据库筛选ERCC4基因的标签单核苷酸多态性位点（tagged-single nucleotide polymorphisms，TagSNPs），使用Taq—Man—MGB探针荧光标记聚合酶链反应方法对rs744154、rs3136079及rs318703个TagSNPs进行基因分型；运用PHASE2．0．2遗传分析软件计算单体型。结果焦炉工组外周血淋巴细胞的Olive尾矩（Olive TM）高于对照组（对数转换后分别为1．26±1．12及0．52±0．97），差异有统计学意义（P〈0．01）。焦炉工中，3个TagSNPs的不同基因型携带者Olive TM值的差异无统计学意义（P〉0．05），构建的不同单体型对携带者Olive TM值的差异亦无统计学意义（P〉0．05）；对照组中rs3136079位点TG杂合子携带者Olive TM值最低（0．26±0．96），明显低于野生型纯合子TT（0．66±0．98）及突变型纯合子GG携带者（0．66±0．51），差异均有统计学意义（P〈0．05），构建的CTG／CTG单体型对携带者Olive TM值最高（0．69±1．01），无CTG单体型携带者Olive TM值最低（0．25±0．80），差异无统计学意义（P=0．08）。结论ERCC4基因多态性对焦炉工外周血淋巴细胞DNA损伤程度无影响，但对照组中rs3136079位点TG杂合基因型携带者DNA损伤程度较轻，表明DNA损伤程度受遗传和环境因素交互作用的影响。     

Sister chromatid exchange analysis in lymphocytes of workers exposed to hexavalent chromium

To investigate the usefulness of sister chromatid exchange (SCE) analysis in lymphocytes as an indicator for mutagenic effects after in vivo exposure to hexavalent chromium (Cr), SCE frequency was analysed in lymphocytes of 44 Cr platers occupationally exposed to hexavalent Cr and 47 controls. Although urinary Cr analysis confirmed that the Cr platers were exposed to Cr, no effects of the exposure on SCE frequency were found. Smokers, both Cr platers and controls, had a significantly higher SCE frequency than non-smokers. These results suggest that SCE analysis in human lymphocytes is not a good indicator of possible mutagenic effects of exposure to hexavalent Cr.     

焦化厂工人尿中多环芳烃代谢物与神经行为功能改变的关系

目的  探讨某焦化厂工人尿中多环芳烃(polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, PAHs)代谢物与神经行为功能改变的关系。方法 2017年对山西省某焦化厂的672名工人进行基本情况调查、神经行为功能测试和尿中多环芳烃羟基代谢物(polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons hydroxyl metabolites, OH-PAHs)的检测;于2021年进行随访,共461名工人完成神经行为功能测试。采用WHO推荐的神经行为测试组合(neurobehavioral core test battery, NCTB)对工人神经行为功能进行测试;使用高效液相色谱-串联质谱联用(high performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry, HPLC-MS/MS)检测尿中OH-PAHs和尿中可替宁。使用广义线性模型和广义估计方程分析工人尿中OH-PAHs与神经行为功能的关系。结果  研究对象基线年龄为34(30, 46)岁,男性占比69.2%。纵向研究中,2-羟基萘(2-hydroxynaphthalene, 2-OHNAP)高暴露组的顺序数字跨度(β=-0.50, 95% CI: -0.81~-0.18, P=0.002)和总数字跨度得分(β=-0.77, 95% CI: -1.38~-0.16, P=0.014)降低;2-羟基芴(2-hydroxyfluorene, 2-OHFLU)高暴露组的平均反应时间明显延长(β=26.90, 95% CI: 7.86~45.93, P=0.006),习惯手提转捷度(β=-1.30, 95% CI: -2.43~-0.17, P=0.024)和非习惯手提转捷度得分(β=-1.19, 95% CI: -2.23~-0.15, P=0.025)降低。结论  长期暴露于高浓度多环芳烃环境中会导致焦化厂工人神经行为功能降低。     

橡胶工人淋巴细胞DNA链断裂的研究

目的 观察橡胶生产的职业暴露对作业工人淋巴细胞DNA损伤的影响。方法 应用慧星试验检测某橡胶厂281名生产工人淋巴细胞DNA的损伤,以90名管理人员为对照组。结果：生产工人的慧星矩（TM）大于管理人员（1.77um与1.52um,P=0.04）,6个工种中以混合车间工人的TM值最大,其余依次为整理、压延、硫化和维修等组,管理人员组的TM值最小（F=3.21,P=0.008）。吸烟（P=0.012）、饮酒（P=0.013）可使TM值显著增加。结论 橡胶生产的职业接触、吸烟可致淋巴细胞DNA损伤。