Micronucleus assay in epithelial cells from the oral cavity and urinary tract in female smokers and non-smokers

The aim of the work was to investigate the possible use of epithelial cells from the oral cavity and urinary tract in identifying smoking-related effects in women. Epithelial cells from the oral cavity and urinary tract were collected from 9 smoking and 9 non-smoking women and subjected to micronucleus assay. The DNA damage (cells with micronuclei and nuclear buds), cytokinetic defects (binucleated cells) and cell death (condensed chromatin, karyorrhexis, pyknosis and karyolysis) were observed after DNA specific staining. In pooled analysis of the frequency of binucleated cells and condensed chromatin cells in 18 studied women, statistically significant differences were noted only in epithelial cells from the oral cavity in comparison to those of the urinary tract. Non pooled results demonstrated no differences in damage frequency in cells collected from the oral cavity and isolated from the urine. The lack of differences in the observed frequencies of micronuclei in buccal and urothelial cells could be an effect of the small size of the sampled group, smoking pattern of the women and the number of cigarettes smoked per day

Micronucleus assay in epithelial cells from the oral cavity and urinary tract in female smokers and non-smokers

The aim of the work was to investigate the possible use of epithelial cells from the oral cavity and urinary tract in identifying smoking-related effects in women. Epithelial cells from the oral cavity and urinary tract were collected from 9 smoking and 9 non-smoking women and subjected to micronucleus assay. The DNA damage (cells with micronuclei and nuclear buds), cytokinetic defects (binucleated cells) and cell death (condensed chromatin, karyorrhexis, pyknosis and karyolysis) were observed after DNA specific staining. In pooled analysis of the frequency of binucleated cells and condensed chromatin cells in 18 studied women, statistically significant differences were noted only in epithelial cells from the oral cavity in comparison to those of the urinary tract. Non pooled results demonstrated no differences in damage frequency in cells collected from the oral cavity and isolated from the urine. The lack of differences in the observed frequencies of micronuclei in buccal and urothelial cells could be an effect of the small size of the sampled group, smoking pattern of the women and the number of cigarettes smoked per day

Urinary mercapturic acids to assess exposure to benzene and other volatile organic compounds in coke oven workers

Coke production was classified as carcinogenic to humans by the International Agency for Research on Cancer. Besides polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, coke oven workers may be exposed to benzene and other volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The aim of this study was to assess the exposure to several VOCs in 49 coke oven workers and 49 individuals living in the same area by determining urinary mercapturic acids. Active tobacco smoking was an exclusion criterion for both groups. Mercapturic acids were investigated by a validated isotopic dilution LC-MS/MS method. Linear models were built to correct for different confounding variables. Urinary levels of N-acetyl-S-phenyl-L-cysteine (SPMA) (metabolite of benzene), N-acetyl-S-(2-hydroxy-1/2-phenylethyl)-L-cysteine (PHEMA) (metabolite of styrene), N-acetyl-S-(2-cyanoethyl)-L-cysteine (CEMA) (metabolite of acrylonitrile), N-acetyl-S-[1-(hydroxymethyl)-2-propen-1-yl)-L-cysteine and N-acetyl-S-(2-hydroxy-3-buten-1-yl)-L-cysteine (MHBMA) (metabolites of 1,3-butadiene) were 2\u201310 fold higher in workers than in controls (p < 0.05). For SPMA, in particular, median levels were 0.02 and 0.31 \ub5g/g creatinine in workers and controls, respectively. Among workers, coke makers were more exposed to PHEMA and SPMA than foremen and engine operators. The comparison with biological limit values shows that the exposure of workers was within 20% of the limit values for all biomarkers, moreover three subjects exceeded the restrictive occupational limit value recently proposed by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) for SPMA

Association between a urinary biomarker for exposure to PAH and blood level of the acute phase protein serum amyloid A in coke oven workers

Coke oven workers are exposed to both free and particle bound PAH. Through this exposure, the workers may be at increased risk of cardiovascular diseases. Systemic levels of acute phase response proteins have been linked to cardiovascular disease in epidemiological studies, suggesting it as a marker of these conditions. The aim of this study was to assess whether there was association between PAH exposure and the blood level of the acute phase inflammatory response marker serum amyloid A (SAA) in coke oven workers