Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon-induced oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation in relation to immunological alteration

• Published in: Occupational and environmental medicine (London, England) Vol. 68; no. 9; pp. 653 - 658
• Main Authors: Jeng, Hueiwang Anna, Pan, Chih-Hong, Diawara, Norou, Chang-Chien, Guo-Ping, Lin, Wen-Yi, Huang, Chia-Tsuan, Ho, Chi-Kung, Wu, Ming-Tsang
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London BMJ Publishing Group Ltd 01.09.2011; BMJ Publishing Group; BMJ Publishing Group LTD
• Subjects: 8-Hydroxydeoxyguanosine; Adult; Allergies; Anthracene; B lymphocytes; Biological and medical sciences; biomarker; Biomarkers; Biomonitoring; Carcinogenesis, carcinogens and anticarcinogens; Case-Control Studies; Chemical agents; Chemical and industrial products toxicology. Toxic occupational diseases; Coke; Coke - toxicity; Coke furnaces; Cross-Sectional Studies; Cytokines; Deoxyguanosine - analogs & derivatives; Deoxyguanosine - urine; Dosage; Employment; Humans; IgA; IgE; Immune system; Immunoglobulin A - blood; Immunoglobulin E - blood; Immunoglobulin G - blood; Immunology; Interleukin-10 - blood; Interleukin-4 - blood; Lipid peroxidation; Lipid Peroxidation - drug effects; Lipid Peroxidation - immunology; Lipids; Malondialdehyde - urine; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Occupational exposure; Occupational Exposure - adverse effects; Occupational health practice; Ovens & stoves; Oxidative stress; Oxidative Stress - drug effects; Oxidative Stress - immunology; Peroxidation; Polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs); Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons; Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons - toxicity; Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons - urine; Pyrene; Questionnaires; Steel; Taiwan; Toxicity; Toxicology; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha - blood; Tumors; Urine; Various organic compounds; Workers; Workplace; Asia; Taiwan; Human; Immunopathology; Oxidative stress; Hydrocarbon; Toxicity; Metallurgical industry; Lipids; Polycyclic aromatic compound; Occupational exposure; Carcinogen; Coke oven; Mechanism of action; Occupational medicine; Peroxidation
• ISSN: 1351-0711; 1470-7926
• DOI: 10.1136/oem.2010.055020

ObjectivesWe evaluated the association between exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and immunological measurements using blood samples from coke oven workers exposed to high and low PAH levels.MethodsA population-based cross-sectional study was conducted from 2008–2009 with coke oven workers and steel-rolling workers as the exposed and control groups, respectively. Questionnaires on basic demographic information were administered. Personal breathing zone and urine samples were collected to quantify personal PAH intake and biological response doses. Immunological and cytokine parameters in serum were analysed. Urinary malondialdehyde (MDA) and 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) were analysed to determine oxidative stress induced by PAHs in relation to altered humoural immunological status.ResultsMean levels of serum immunoglobulin A (IgA) and TNF-α were significantly increased in coke oven workers compared to steel-rolling workers who had no or minimal PAH exposure (p=0.0033 and p<0.0001, respectively). There were no significant differences in mean levels of IL-4 and IL-10 between coke oven workers and steel-rolling workers. Moderate activation of lipid peroxidation and oxidative damage as determined by plasma MDA and 8-OHdG levels were detected simultaneously with significant alterations in IgA and IgE levels. Multiple regression analyses demonstrated that PAHs with high molecular weights >252 (dibenzo(a,h)anthracene, benzo(a)pyrene, benzo(a)anthracene and/or indeno(1,2,3-cd)pyrene) correlated with IgA and IgE levels.ConclusionsThis study showed that coke oven workers with chronic exposure to PAHs may develop immunological alteration. Oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation induced by PAHs may partly explain the alteration in immunological parameters.