Cytogenetic findings on shoe workers exposed long-term to benzene.

Abstract

Cytogenetic analysis of peripheral blood lymphocytes was performed to detect cytogenetical alterations in 58 shoe workers (57 male and 1 female) who had been exposed to particular mutagenic or carcinogenic agents and in 20 subjects selected from the general population as a control group. Frequencies of damaged cells, including gaps, breaks, and rearrangements (acentric fragment, deletion, translocations) were scored for both groups. The incidence of chromosomal aberrations (particularly chromatid gaps and breaks) in the study group was significantly higher than in the control group. No effects of smoking were observed and breaks alone were found to be influenced by alcohol consumption. No significant correlation was detected between the working period in the group exposed to benzene and frequency of chromosomal aberrations. Benzene content was determined to be between 0 and 28.5% in eight kinds of glues studied by fractional distillation. Hexane content ranged between 0 and 68.35% using the same method. This study indicated that the content of benzene and hexane in the glues are above normal limits. Environ Health Perspect 104(Suppl 6): 1313-1317 (1996)

Genotoxic, hematoxic, pathological, and biochemical effects of hexane on Swiss albino rats

“…We observed chromosome aberrations in shoeworkers who use adhesives that contain benzene, toluene, and hexane in previous studies [9,10]. There was also a high concentration of benzene, hexane and toluene in adhesives [10].…”

“…In these workers, chromosomal abnormalities were significantly higher than in the control group [9,10]. Besides benzene exposure, superimposed hexane and toluene could have a causative role because adhesives were also containing high levels of hexane.…”

“…In 1994 and in 1997, we studied shoe-workers who were exposed to benzene, hexane, and toluene containing adhesives [9,10]. In these workers, chromosomal abnormalities were significantly higher than in the control group [9,10].…”

“…There was also a high concentration of benzene, hexane and toluene in adhesives [10]. In 1953, Browning et al [11] conducted a study on toluene and found no effect on the hematopoietic system, but later these results were considered misleading because Mohtashamipur et al [12] stated its genotoxic effects on bone marrow cells of rats.…”

Dysregulation of markers of oxidative stress and DNA damage among nail technicians despite low exposure to volatile organic compounds

“…Nevertheless, interest in the oxidative damage caused by these solvents' toxic effects have only is relatively new, and thus the amount of evidence concerning their possible genotoxic and carcinogenic potential is scarce and still under discussion. Even though these substances are considered to be neither carcinogenic nor genotoxic to humans (IARC class 3 carcinogens, ie, not classifiable as to their carcinogenicity to humans), there is a growing amount of evidence suggesting increased (i) levels of markers of oxidative stress (10)(11)(12), (ii) rate of chromosomal aberrations or sister chromatid exchange (12)(13)(14), and (iii) incidence of various cancers among workers occupationally exposed to toluene or xylene [even at occupational exposures far below the respective occupational limits (15)(16)(17)(18)(19)(20)(21)]. Although precise mechanisms underlying the effects of toluene and xylene remain unknown, the role of oxidative stress, oxidative DNA damage and dysregulated cellular antioxidant levels have been implicated (22)(23)(24).…”