Traffic air pollution and oxidatively generated DNA damage: can urinary 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2-deoxiguanosine be considered a good biomarker? A meta-analysis.

Oxidative stress is one of the mechanisms through which traffic-related air pollution causes adverse effects on human health. The urinary excretion of 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2-deoxyguanosine (8oxodG) has often been used as a biomarker to evaluate the effect of air pollution on subjects occupationally exposed. We used a meta-analysis to evaluate the effect of traffic air pollution on urinary 8oxodG levels in healthy workers. We observed higher urinary 8oxodG levels in non-smoking exposed subjects compared with smokers. This difference was clearer when an HPLC assay was used. These results show that urinary 8oxodG can be used as a biomarker to evaluate the pro-oxidant effects of vehicle exhaust emissions on DNA in exposed workers.