Long-term exposure to diesel engine exhaust induces primary DNA damage: a population-based study

• Published in: Occupational and environmental medicine (London, England) Vol. 73; no. 2; pp. 83 - 90
• Main Authors: Duan, Huawei, Jia, Xiaowei, Zhai, Qingfeng, Ma, Lu, Wang, Shan, Huang, Chuanfeng, Wang, Haisheng, Niu, Yong, Li, Xue, Dai, Yufei, Yu, Shanfa, Gao, Weimin, Chen, Wen, Zheng, Yuxin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BMJ Publishing Group 01.02.2016; BMJ Publishing Group LTD
• Subjects: Adult; Air Pollutants, Occupational - adverse effects; Air Pollutants, Occupational - analysis; Air Pollution - adverse effects; Air Pollution - analysis; Bioassays; Biomarkers; Biomarkers - metabolism; Blood; Body mass index; Carbon; Carbon - adverse effects; Carbon - analysis; Carcinogens; Chemical hazards; Cigarette smoking; Comet Assay; Comets; Control groups; Deoxyguanosine - analogs & derivatives; Deoxyguanosine - urine; Deoxyribonucleic acid; Diesel engines; DNA; DNA Damage; DNA-Formamidopyrimidine Glycosylase - metabolism; Exhaust emissions; Factories; Health risks; Humans; Lung cancer; Lung neoplasms; Male; Manufacturing; Nitrogen dioxide; Nitrogen Dioxide - adverse effects; Nitrogen Dioxide - analysis; Occupational exposure; Occupational Exposure - adverse effects; Oxidative Stress; Particulate matter; Particulate Matter - adverse effects; Particulate Matter - analysis; Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons; Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons - adverse effects; Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons - analysis; Population studies; Population-based studies; Pyrenes - urine; Risk; Risk assessment; Sulfur; Sulfur dioxide; Sulfur Dioxide - adverse effects; Sulfur Dioxide - analysis; Urine; Vehicle Emissions - analysis; Work; Working hours; Workplace; Young Adult; China
• ISSN: 1351-0711; 1470-7926; 1470-7926
• DOI: 10.1136/oemed-2015-102919

ObjectivesDiesel engine exhaust (DEE) is a ubiquitous environmental pollutant and is carcinogenic to humans. To seek early and sensitive biomarkers for prediction of adverse health effects, we analysed the components of DEE particles, and examined the genetic and oxidative damages in DEE-exposed workers.Methods101 male diesel engine testing workers who were constantly exposed to DEE and 106 matched controls were enrolled in the present study. The components of DEE were analysed, including fine particulate matter (PM2.5), element carbon (EC), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulfur dioxide (SO2) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Postshift urine samples were collected and analysed for 1-hydroxypyrene (1-OHP), an internal exposure marker for DEE. Levels of DNA strand breaks and oxidised purines, defined as formamidopyrimidine-DNA glycosylase (FPG) sites in leucocytes, were measured by medium throughput Comet assay. Urinary 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) was also used to determine the level of oxidative stress.ResultsWe found higher levels of PM2.5, EC, NO2, SO2 and PAHs in the diesel engine testing workshop and significantly higher urinary 1-OHP concentrations in exposed subjects (p<0.001). Compared with controls, the levels of parameters in normal Comet and FPG-Comet assay were all significantly higher in DEE-exposed workers (p<0.001), and in a dose-dependent and time-dependent manner. There were no significant differences between DEE-exposed workers and controls in regard to leucocyte FPG sensitive sites and urinary 8-OHdG levels.ConclusionsThese findings suggest that DEE exposure mainly induces DNA damage, which might be used as an early biomarker for risk assessment of DEE exposure.