TY - JOUR
T1 - Benzene exposure assessed by metabolite excretion in Estonian oil shale mineworkers: influence of glutathione s-transferase polymorphisms
AU - Sørensen, Mette
AU - Poole, Jason
AU - Autrup, Herman
AU - Muzyka, Vladimir
AU - Jensen, Annie
AU - Loft, Steffen
AU - Knudsen, Lisbeth E
N1 - Keywords: Acetylcysteine; Adult; Benzene; Biological Markers; Estonia; Genotype; Glutathione Transferase; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Occupational Exposure; Petroleum; Polymorphism, Genetic; Sorbic Acid
PY - 2004
Y1 - 2004
N2 - Measurement of urinary excretion of the benzene metabolites S-phenylmercapturic acid (S-PMA) and trans,trans-muconic acid (t,t-MA) has been proposed for assessing benzene exposure, in workplaces with relatively high benzene concentrations. Excretion of S-PMA and t,t-MA in underground workers at an oil shale mine were compared with the excretion in workers engaged in various production assignments above ground. In addition, possible modifying effects of genetic polymorphisms in glutathione S-transferases T1 (GSTT1), M1 (GSTM1), and P1 (GSTP1) on the excretion of S-PMA and t,t-MA were investigated. Fifty underground workers and 50 surface workers participated. Blood samples and three urine samples were collected from each worker: (a) a preshift sample collected the morning after a weekend, (b) a postshift sample 1 collected after the first shift, and (c) a postshift sample 2 collected after the last shift of the week. Personal benzene exposure was 114 +/- 35 mug/m(3) in surface workers (n = 15) and 190 +/- 50 mug/m(3) in underground workers (n = 15) in measurements made prior to the study. We found t,t-MA excretion to be significantly higher in underground workers after the end of shifts 1 and 2 compared with the corresponding surface workers. The same picture, although not significant, was seen for S-PMA excretion. Excretion of S-PMA and t,t-MA was found to increase significantly during the working week in underground workers but not in those employed on the surface. Both t,t-MA and S-PMA excretion were significantly higher in smokers compared with nonsmokers. Subjects carrying the GSTT1 wild-type excreted higher concentrations of S-PMA than subjects carrying the null genotype, suggesting that it is a key enzyme in the glutathione conjugation that leads to S-PMA. The results support the use of benzene metabolites as biomarkers for assessment of exposure at modest levels and warrant for further investigations of health risks of occupational benzene exposure in shale oil mines.
AB - Measurement of urinary excretion of the benzene metabolites S-phenylmercapturic acid (S-PMA) and trans,trans-muconic acid (t,t-MA) has been proposed for assessing benzene exposure, in workplaces with relatively high benzene concentrations. Excretion of S-PMA and t,t-MA in underground workers at an oil shale mine were compared with the excretion in workers engaged in various production assignments above ground. In addition, possible modifying effects of genetic polymorphisms in glutathione S-transferases T1 (GSTT1), M1 (GSTM1), and P1 (GSTP1) on the excretion of S-PMA and t,t-MA were investigated. Fifty underground workers and 50 surface workers participated. Blood samples and three urine samples were collected from each worker: (a) a preshift sample collected the morning after a weekend, (b) a postshift sample 1 collected after the first shift, and (c) a postshift sample 2 collected after the last shift of the week. Personal benzene exposure was 114 +/- 35 mug/m(3) in surface workers (n = 15) and 190 +/- 50 mug/m(3) in underground workers (n = 15) in measurements made prior to the study. We found t,t-MA excretion to be significantly higher in underground workers after the end of shifts 1 and 2 compared with the corresponding surface workers. The same picture, although not significant, was seen for S-PMA excretion. Excretion of S-PMA and t,t-MA was found to increase significantly during the working week in underground workers but not in those employed on the surface. Both t,t-MA and S-PMA excretion were significantly higher in smokers compared with nonsmokers. Subjects carrying the GSTT1 wild-type excreted higher concentrations of S-PMA than subjects carrying the null genotype, suggesting that it is a key enzyme in the glutathione conjugation that leads to S-PMA. The results support the use of benzene metabolites as biomarkers for assessment of exposure at modest levels and warrant for further investigations of health risks of occupational benzene exposure in shale oil mines.
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 15533900
SN - 1055-9965
VL - 13
SP - 1729
EP - 1735
JO - Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention
JF - Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention
IS - 11 Pt 1
ER -
