Genotoxic effect of exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in asphalt workers

Authors

  • Fatemeh Kargar-Shouroki Occupational Health Research Center, Department of Occupational Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8700-5087
  • Mohammad Miri Non-Communicable Diseases Research Center, Department of Environmental Health, School of Health, Sabzevar University of Medical Sciences, Sabzevar, Iran https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9424-6487
  • Mohammad Javad Zare Sakhvidi Occupational Health Research Center, Department of Occupational Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1276-6487
  • Seyedeh Zahra Hosseini Sangchi Occupational Health Research Center, School of Public Health, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran. Tel.: +989361686929, E-mail: Sangchi_72@yahoo.com https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8320-8768
  • Farzan Madadizadeh Research Center of Prevention and Epidemiology of Non-Communicable Disease, Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5757-182X

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.17179/excli2021-3487

Keywords:

polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), micronucleus, asphalt workers, genotoxic effect

Abstract

Asphalt workers are at risk due to exposure to asphalt fumes containing polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The main purpose of this study was to measure the urinary metabolite of PAHs and to determine its effect on micronucleus (MN) formation as an indicator of genotoxic damage. In this cross-sectional study, the MN frequency in 48 male asphalt workers exposed to PAHs was measured and compared with 48 male non-exposed employees. PAHs exposure was evaluated by determining urinary 1-Hydroxypyrene (1-OHP). The mean concentrations of 1-OHP in the exposed and non-exposed groups were 0.58 ± 0.41 μmol/mol creatinine and 0.38 ± 0.25 μmol/mol creatinine, respectively. 1-OHP concentration was significantly higher in smokers compared with non-smokers in both exposed and non-exposed groups. Moreover, the mean MN frequency in the exposed group was significantly higher than in the non-exposed group. The MN frequency was significantly higher in asphalt workers with a work history of ≥ 15 years compared to workers with lower work history. In a fully adjusted model, there was a statistically significant association between exposure to PAHs, with MN and 1-OHP concentration, and between smoking status with 1-OHP. The findings of the present study indicated that occupational exposure to PAHs was associated with increased urinary 1-OHP as well as DNA damage in the asphalt workers.

Author Biographies

Fatemeh Kargar-Shouroki, Occupational Health Research Center, Department of Occupational Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran

kargar_st@yahoo.com, +989133738339

Mohammad Miri, Non-Communicable Diseases Research Center, Department of Environmental Health, School of Health, Sabzevar University of Medical Sciences, Sabzevar, Iran

m_miri87@yahoo.com,+98 912 935 7588

Mohammad Javad Zare Sakhvidi, Occupational Health Research Center, Department of Occupational Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran

mjzs63@gmail.com, +98 912 448 1013

Farzan Madadizadeh, Research Center of Prevention and Epidemiology of Non-Communicable Disease, Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran

Published

2021-03-16

How to Cite

Kargar-Shouroki, F., Miri, M., Zare Sakhvidi, M. J., Hosseini Sangchi, S. Z., & Madadizadeh, F. (2021). Genotoxic effect of exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in asphalt workers. EXCLI Journal, 20, 686–697. https://doi.org/10.17179/excli2021-3487

Issue

Section

Original articles