DNA damage in workers exposed to formaldehyde at concentrations below occupational exposure limits

• Published in: Toxicological and environmental chemistry Vol. 99; no. 9-10; pp. 1409 - 1417
• Main Authors: Zendehdel, Rezvan, Jouni, Fatemeh Javani, Hajipour, Behnam, Panjali, Zahra, Kheiri, Homa, Vahabi, Masoomeh
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Abingdon Taylor & Francis 26.11.2017; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: Bioassays; Cancer; Carcinogens; Comet assay; Damage assessment; Damage detection; Deoxyribonucleic acid; DNA; DNA damage; Exposure; Exposure limits; Formaldehyde; Habits; Health risk assessment; Low concentrations; Lymphocytes; Melamine; melamine dinnerware; Occupational exposure; Occupational health; Peripheral blood; Sex; Smoking; Socioeconomics; Tableware; Toxicity; Workshops
• ISSN: 0277-2248; 1029-0486
• DOI: 10.1080/02772248.2017.1343335

Formaldehyde has been classified in group 1 as a potential source of human carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer. In this study, we evaluated the DNA damage in workers who were occupationally exposed to formaldehyde during the manufacture of melamine dinnerware. Age, sex, smoking habits, and socioeconomic status were matched by the controls (n = 34) of workers not occupationally exposed to formaldehyde. The median value of formaldehyde time weighted average exposure in three workshops was 0.086 mg/m 3 . No significant difference was observed between sex and smoking habit in the assessed workers. Alkaline comet assay of peripheral blood lymphocytes was used to determine the DNA damage in the subjects. Olive moment was significantly higher in the exposed group compared with the control group. Overall, the results suggest that respiratory exposure to low concentrations of formaldehyde causes DNA damage in peripheral blood lymphocyte. Therefore, exposure to formaldehyde should be reduced to the lowest possible level.