High chromosomal instability in workers occupationally exposed to solvents and paint removers

Abstract

BackgroundPainters are exposed to an extensive variety of harmful substances like aromatic hydrocarbons used as solvents and paint removers, some of which have shown clastogenic activity. These substances constitute a complex mixture of chemicals which contain well-known genotoxicants, such as Benzene, Toluene and Xylene. Thus, chronic occupational exposure to such substances may be considered to possess genotoxic risk. In Colombia the information available around the genotoxic damage (Chromosomal and DNA damage) in car paint shop workers is limited and the knowledge of this damage could contribute not only to a better understanding of the carcinogenic effect of this kind of substances but also could be used as biomarkers of occupational exposure to genotoxic agents.ResultsIn this study, the genotoxic effect of aromatic hydrocarbons was assessed in peripheral blood lymphocytes of 24 workers occupationally exposed and 24 unexposed donors, by using Cytogenetic analysis and comet assay. A high frequency of Chromosomal alterations was found in the exposed group in comparison with those observed in the unexposed group. Among the total of CAs observed in the exposed group, fragilities were most frequently found (100 %), followed by chromosomal breaks (58 %), structural (41.2 %) and numerical chromosomal alterations (21 %). Numerical chromosomal alterations, fragilities and chromosomal breaks showed significant differences between exposed and unexposed groups. Among the fragilities, fra(9)(q12) was the most frequently observed. DNA damage index was also significantly higher in the exposed group compared to the unexposed group (p < 0.000).ConclusionsOur results revealed that occupational exposure to aromatic hydrocarbons is significantly associated with Chromosomal and DNA damage in car paint shops workers and are also indicative of high chromosomal instability. The high frequency of both Chromosomal Alterations and DNA Damage Index observed in this study indicates an urgent need of intervention not only to prevent the increased risk of developing cancer but also to the application of strict health control and motivation to the use of appropriate protecting devices during work.

The association of three DNA repair genes polymorphisms on the frequency of chromosomal alterations detected by fluorescence in situ hybridization

“…Chromosome alterations (CAs) are standardized biomarkers of early biological effects in human biomonitoring. In fact, CAs in peripheral blood lymphocytes reflect inter-individual sensitivity to exogenous genotoxic substances and can be used as biomarker of carcinogenic risk (Rossner et al 2005 ; Mateuca et al 2012 ; Zhang et al 2012 ; Li et al 2015 ; Villalba-Campos et al 2016 ). Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) using whole chromosome painting (wcp) probes allows a rapid detection of CAs, enabling new possibilities of cytogenetic dosimetry (Verdorfer et al 2001 ; Santiago et al 2014 ).…”

<p>Chromosomal Instability in Farmers Exposed to Pesticides: High Prevalence of Clonal and Non-Clonal Chromosomal Alterations</p>

“…Interestingly, this fragility was observed by us in high frequency, in a Colombian population with breast cancer 52 and also in individuals occupationally exposed to paint removers. 53 Therefore, we suggest that fra (9)(q12) could be considered as a cytogenetic biomarker of chromosomal damage associated with pesticide exposure.…”

Increased DNA Damage, Instability and Cytokinesis Defects in Occupationally Exposed Car Painters

“…Finally, it is disturbing to know that literature is full of reports associating painting with cancer, especially considering that >90% of all human cancers are of epithelial origin (16,17,28). Recently, Jung et al (28) observed that Canadian painters occupationally exposed had high risk of lung cancer, corroborating the IARC classification.…”

“…The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) already classified commercial painting as a high-risk group for lung and bladder cancer development (14), whereas the major pathways of exposure involve inhalation of vapors and gases, dermal absorption and/or ingestion (15). While, benzene is already classified by IARC as "carcinogenic to humans", isocyanates, toluene and xylene per se are classified as "not classified as to their carcinogenicity in humans", even with the crescent literature associating painters with chemical contamination and diseases (16,17). Another major issue is that some workers do not even know about these classifications, so they tend to ignore personal and collective protective equipment, what could increase the risk for future diseases.…”