Exposure to carcinogenic compounds in the production of special steels and new biomarkers of epigenetic effect
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.36125/ijoehy.v13i1.423Keywords:
metallic elements, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, urinary biomarkers, methylation, steel factoryAbstract
Aim: Different materials and processes adopted in the steel industry can result in an occupational exposure to carcinogens, including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and metallic elements that can cause both genotoxic damage and epigenetic alterations to nucleic acids. The objective of this study was to investigate the possible epigenetic effects of occupational exposure to Chromium (Cr), Nickel (Ni), Cadmium (Cd) and PAHs, in a group of workers of two steel plants through the determination of new urinary biomarkers of nucleic acid methylation.
Methods: The study was carried out at two steel mills where special steels are produced. Carcinogen exposure assessment was conducted by a combined environmental and biological monitoring approach. Personal environmental samplings were performed on 101 workers employed in four different working areas (steel mill, forge, rolling mill and heat treatment), by the analysis of airborne Cr, Cd and Ni. All workers collected a urine sample for the determination of Cr, Cd, Ni, hydroxypyrene (1OHP), cotinine, and urinary biomarkers of nucleic acid methylation, 5-Methyl-Cytosine (5MeCyto), 5- Methyl -Citidine (5MeCyt), 5- Methyl-2'deoxycitidine (5MedCyt).
Results: Airborne Cr showed a median value of 0.3 µg/m3 (range 0.01-8.7 µg/m3), airborne Ni 1.0 µg/m3 (range 0.01-22.3 µg/m3), airborne Cd <0.01 µg/m3 (range <0.01-0.17 µg/m3). Urinary Cr median concentration was 0.32 µg/L (range 0.03-1.62 µg/L), urinary Ni 1.40 µg/L (range 0.10-4.90 µg/L), urinary Cd 0.37 µg/L (range 0.03-3.19 µg/L), urinary 1-OHP 0.12 µg/g creatinine (range 0.02-2.21 µg/g creatinine). Regression analysis shows a positive association between urinary concentrations of Cr and 5MeCyt, Ni and 5-meCyto, 1OHP and 5-MedCyt, respectively.
Conclusions: Although the new urinary biomarkers of nucleic acid methylation are not specific, their positive association with internal dose biomarkers of Ni, Cr and PAHs suggests a possible epigenetic modification effect caused by exposure to low concentrations of these xenobiotics.
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