Biological monitoring the exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons of coke oven workers in relation to smoking and genetic polymorphisms for GSTM1 and GSTT1.

Ann Occup Hyg 2001 Jul;45(5):395-408 Related Articles, Books, LinkOut Biological monitoring the exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons of coke oven workers in relation to smoking and genetic polymorphisms for GSTM1 and GSTT1. van Delft JH, Steenwinkel MS, van Asten JG, de Vogel N, Bruijntjes-Rozier TC, Schouten T, Cramers P, Maas L, van Herwijnen MH, van Schooten F, Hopmans PM. Toxicology Division, TNO Nutrition and Food Research Institute, P.O. Box 360, 3700 AJ, Zeist, The Netherlands. j.vandelft@grat.unimaas.nl Occupational exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) increases the risk of developing lung cancer. Human exposure is often demonstrated by increased internal levels of PAH metabolites and of markers for early biological effects, like DNA adducts and cytogenetic aberrations.Objective: This study aimed to assess whether the current exposure to PAH of coke oven workers in a Dutch plant induced biological effects, and to determine if these effects are influenced by tobacco smoking and by genetic polymorphisms for the glutathione S-transferase genes GSTM1 and GSTT1.Methods: Urinary 1-hydroxypyrene (1-OHpyr) levels were used to monitor the internal dose, while the internal effective dose was assessed by monitoring PAH-DNA adducts, DNA strand breaks (Comet assay), sister-chromatid exchanges (SCE) and cells with a high frequency of SCE (HFC) in lymphocytes together with micronuclei (MN) in exfoliated urothelial cells.Results: Occupational exposure to PAH resulted in statistically significant increased 1-OHpyr levels (P<0.001), but it did not cause a significant induction of SCE, HFC, MN, DNA strand breaks or DNA adducts. Smoking caused a significant increase of 1-OHpyr (P<0.05), SCE (P<0.001), HFC (P<0.001) and DNA adducts (P