DNA-protein crosslinks as a biomarker of exposure to solar radiation: a preliminary study in brick-kiln workers

Abstract

In India, fired clay bricks are produced in small-scale factories. There are 60, 000 active brick kilns, providing employment to nearly 12 million people in different suboccupations. This industry is largely non-mechanized and operates from November to June. Almost all the workers are exposed to direct sunlight for 8-10 h a day. Cellular DNA-protein crosslinks (DPCs) are the biologically active nucleoprotein complexes formed between DNA and proteins. Ultraviolet light and gamma-rays, and other suspected carcinogens in humans, induce DPC formation in blood cells. DPCs have therefore been identified as a biomarker for monitoring exposure to these hazardous agents. Here we report steady-state levels of DPCs in human peripheral lymphocytes from 46 brick-kiln workers exposed occupationally for 8-10 h a day to solar radiation in brickfields and 25 unexposed controls. A significant increase (p <0.05) in DPC content and DPC coefficients in peripheral lymphocytes was observed in the brick-kiln workers compared with the controls. The data suggest that the DPC content of lymphocytes could be a possible biomarker of exposure to solar radiation. However, further work is necessary to confirm this.

Radiation Metabolomics. 1. Identification of Minimally Invasive Urine Biomarkers for Gamma-Radiation Exposure in Mice

“…Blood cells and serum have proven to be abundant sources of human radiation biomarkers, including those of DNA damage and repair (5, 6), chromosomal aberrations (7), DNA-protein crosslinks (8), red blood cell polyamine levels (9), serum proteomic profiles (10), and gene expression profiles determined by both microarrays (11) and RT-PCR (12). …”

Plasma phospholipid metabolic profiling and biomarkers of rats following radiation exposure based on liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry technique

“…The search for biomarkers of the early effects of ionizing radiation exposure in both humans and experimental animals has a history spanning several decades. Blood cells, serum and urine have proven to be rich sources of human radiation biomarkers, including those of DNA damage and repair (Garaj-Vrhovac and Kopjar, 2003;Plappert et al, 1997), chromosomal aberrations (Blakely et al, 2001), DNA-protein cross links (Budhwar et al, 2003), red blood cell polyamine levels (Porciani et al, 2001), serum proteomic profiles (Menard et al, 2006), gene expression profiles determined by both microarrays (Amundson et al, 2004), RT-PCR (Kang et al, 2003), N-hexanoylglycine and taurine excretion in urine (Tyburski et al, 2008). Several biological parameters of animal plasma including cholesterol, phospholipids and so on have been extensively investigated.…”

A Cross Sectional Study of Socio – Demographic and Morbidity Profile of Brick Kiln Workers in Rural Area of Karad, in Satara District

“…Bricks are prepared, processed and baked at the brick kiln in the open spaces usually by the side of river. Brick kilns provide employment to nearly 12 million people in different sub occupations [3] . The workers are exposed to the sun for long hours, high concentration of hazardous dust, open fire, hot surfaces etc.…”