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Mutat Res

Title:		Exposure of thermoelectric power-plant workers to volatile organic compounds from fuel oil: genotoxic and cytotoxic effects in buccal epithelial cells
Author(s):		Garcia PV; Linhares D; Amaral AF; Rodrigues AS;
Address:		"Centro de Investigacao e Tecnologias Agrarias dos Acores, Angra do Heroismo, Portugal. patriciag@uac.pt"
Journal Title:		Mutat Res
Year:		2012
Volume:		20120525
Issue:		2
Page Number:		197 - 201
DOI:		10.1016/j.mrgentox.2012.05.008
ISSN/ISBN:		0027-5107 (Print) 0027-5107 (Linking)
Abstract:		"Thermoelectric power-plant workers are constantly exposed to high levels of potentially genotoxic gaseous substances, such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from the combustion of fuel oil or the processing of naphtha. The aim of the present study was to estimate the association between such occupational exposure and the frequency of micronucleated cells and cells with other nuclear anomalies. Buccal epithelial cells were collected from a total of 44 power-plant workers (exposed group) and 47 administrative workers (non-exposed group), and examined for the frequency of micronucleated cells (MNC) and of cells with other nuclear anomalies (ONA: pyknosis, karyolysis, and karyorrhexis) by means of the micronucleus assay. The frequencies of MNC and ONA per 1000 cells in the exposed group (1.8 per thousand and 82.4 per thousand, respectively) were significantly higher than in the non-exposed group (0.2 per thousand and 58.3 per thousand, respectively). The exposed group had a twelve-fold increase in risk for formation of MNC compared with non-exposed individuals (RR=12.1; 95% CI, 5.0-29.2; P<0.001). The confounding factors analyzed (age, smoking status, alcohol consumption, and mouthwash use) did not show any significant association with the frequency of MNC or ONA. The findings of this study show that workers from power plants exposed to VOCs have a significantly elevated risk for DNA damage. Therefore, bio-monitoring of DNA damage is recommended for this group of workers"
Keywords:		"Adult Air Pollutants, Occupational/*toxicity Cheek DNA Damage/*drug effects *Fuel Oils Humans Male Micronucleus Tests Mouth Mucosa/*drug effects *Occupational Exposure *Power Plants Volatile Organic Compounds/*toxicity;"
Notes:		"MedlineGarcia, P V Linhares, D Amaral, A F S Rodrigues, A S eng Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Netherlands 2012/05/30 Mutat Res. 2012 Sep 18; 747(2):197-201. doi: 10.1016/j.mrgentox.2012.05.008. Epub 2012 May 25"