| Literature DB >> 27398027 |
Evin Danisman Bruschweiler1, Pascal Wild2, Cong Khanh Huynh1, Dessislava Savova-Bianchi1, Brigitta Danuser1, Nancy B Hopf1.
Abstract
Exposure to wood dust, a human carcinogen, is common in wood-related industries, and millions of workers are occupationally exposed to wood dust worldwide. The comet assay is a rapid, simple, and sensitive method for determining DNA damage. The objective of this study was to investigate the DNA damage associated with occupational exposure to wood dust using the comet assay (peripheral blood samples) among nonsmoking wood workers (n = 31, furniture and construction workers) and controls (n = 19). DNA damage was greater in the group exposed to composite wood products compared to the group exposed to natural woods and controls (P < 0.001). No difference in DNA damage was observed between workers exposed to natural woods and controls (P = 0.13). Duration of exposure and current dust concentrations had no effect on DNA damage. In future studies, workers' exposures should include cumulative dust concentrations and exposures originating from the binders used in composite wood products.Entities:
Keywords: DNA damage; comet assay; occupational exposure; wood dust
Year: 2016 PMID: 27398027 PMCID: PMC4927022 DOI: 10.4137/EHI.S38344
Source DB: PubMed Journal: Environ Health Insights ISSN: 1178-6302
Figure 1The DNA damage was quantified by visual classification of cells into four categories (0–3); corresponding to tail size with 0 representing no damage, 1 representing low level damage, 2 representing medium level damage, and 3 representing high level damage.
Demographic characteristics and exposure data for study participants by wood dust exposure status.
| VARIABLES | NON EXPOSED (n = 20) | EXPOSED (n = 21) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NATURAL WOOD GROUP | COMPOSITE WOOD PRODUCTS GROUP | |||||
| MEDIAN | 25th–75th | MEDIAN | 25th–75th | MEDIAN | 25th–75th | |
| Age [years] | 38 | 31–45 | 39 | 29–45 | 39 | 31–54 |
| BMI | 24.1 | 22.1–26.4 | 24.7 | 23.0–26.5 | 24.3 | 21.8–25.6 |
| Duration [years] | – | – | 21 | 24.5–28 | 20 | 10–30 |
| Wood dust [mg/m3] | – | – | 3.6 | 1.9–12.4 | 1.7 | 1.2–3.3 |
| Total PAHs [ng/m3] | – | – | 78.9 | 64.5–95.9 | 65.0 | 48.5–81.5 |
| BaP [ng/m3] | – | – | 4.5 | 2.8–5.4 | < lod | < lod |
Notes:
Natural wood (fir, spruce, beech, and oak).
Composite wood boards (MDF and other composite products).
BMI, body mass index.
Duration of exposures to wood dust.
Gravimetric wood dust concentrations of the inhalable fraction.
Median and quartiles of the comet score according to exposure groups and categories of number of nasal and buccal cells with micronuclei.
| COMET SCORE | n | MEDIAN | 25th–75th | MAXIMUM | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exposure group | |||||
| Non exposed | 19 | 11.0 | 8.0–18.0 | 34.0 | – |
| Natural wood | 12 | 11.3 | 8.8–26.3 | 92.5 | – |
| Wooden board | 19 | 61.5 | 49.5–85 | 200.5 | <0.0001 |
| Groups of nasal MN | |||||
| 0 MN cells/1000 | 11 | 9.0 | 8.0–53.5 | 200.5 | – |
| 1–3 MN cells/1000 | 23 | 18.0 | 10.0–49.5 | 85.5 | – |
| 4+ MN cells/1000 | 16 | 51 | 18.3–73.3 | 182.5 | 0.001 |
| Groups of buccal MN | |||||
| 1–3 MN cells/2000 | 18 | 12.0 | 9.0–37.5 | 53.5 | – |
| 4–5 MN cells/2000 | 18 | 33.5 | 9.0–70.0 | 200.5 | – |
| 6+ MN cells/2000 | 12 | 58.3 | 36.5–84.5 | 182.5 | – |
Notes:
Based on one-way ANOVA of the log-transformed comet score. In a post hoc multiplicity corrected test, the comet score was significantly larger in the wooden board group than in the two other groups that did not differ significantly.
Based on a test for linear trend with the log-transformed comet score in a logistic regression model of the number of MN cells. When comparing the log-transformed comet score between the three groups in a one-way ANOVA, these groups did not differ significantly.
Figure 2Box plot of comet assay scores (y-axis) by exposure group (x-axis): nonexposed group, natural wood exposed group (fir, spruce, beech, and oak), and composite wood products group.
Figure 3Comet score by number of cells with micronuclei in nasal (A) and buccal (B) cells.
| EXPOSURE GROUP | AGE | BMI | DURATION OF EXPOSURE | COMET SCORE | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Non exposed | 23 | 21 | 0 | 4 | |
| Non exposed | 27 | 22 | 0 | 6 | |
| Non exposed | 31 | 24 | 0 | 18 | |
| Non exposed | 31 | 21 | 0 | 12 | |
| Non exposed | 31 | 25 | 0 | 9 | |
| Non exposed | 32 | 17 | 0 | 10 | |
| Non exposed | 35 | 26 | 0 | 8 | |
| Non exposed | 36 | 30 | 0 | 34 | |
| Non exposed | 38 | 20 | 0 | 16 | |
| Non exposed | 38 | 23 | 0 | 12 | |
| Non exposed | 39 | 26 | 0 | 9 | |
| Non exposed | 43 | 24 | 0 | 25 | |
| Non exposed | 45 | 29 | 0 | 3 | |
| Non exposed | 45 | 24 | 0 | 8 | |
| Non exposed | 47 | 24 | 0 | 8 | |
| Non exposed | 47 | 29 | 0 | 11 | |
| Non exposed | 50 | 24 | 0 | 6 | |
| Non exposed | 50 | 22 | 0 | 14 | |
| Non exposed | 55 | – | 0 | 19 | |
| Non exposed | 62 | 27 | 0 | 28 | |
| Natural wood | A | 16 | 22 | 0.5 | 85 |
| Natural wood | A | 18 | 23 | 5 | 9 |
| Natural wood | A | 18 | 23 | 5 | 9 |
| Natural wood | A | 25 | 24 | 9 | 29 |
| Natural wood | A | 36 | 25 | 20 | 18 |
| Natural wood | A | 44 | 26 | 28 | 6 |
| Natural wood | A | 47 | 25 | 31 | 6 |
| Natural wood | B | 33 | 20 | 9 | 93 |
| Natural wood | B | 36 | 30 | 17 | 10 |
| Natural wood | B | 42 | 27 | 22 | 10 |
| Natural wood | B | 43 | 20 | 25 | 13 |
| Natural wood | B | 46 | 26 | 23 | 24 |
| Natural wood | B | 52 | 27 | 24 | 55 |
| Composite wood boards | C | 37 | 24 | 34 | 43 |
| Composite wood boards | C | 39 | 24 | 30 | 49 |
| Composite wood boards | D | 26 | 25 | 10 | 85 |
| Composite wood boards | D | 30 | 26 | 15 | 60 |
| Composite wood boards | D | 31 | 22 | 15 | 50 |
| Composite wood boards | D | 35 | 31 | 19 | 60 |
| Composite wood boards | D | 39 | 22 | 24 | 85 |
| Composite wood boards | D | 46 | 22 | 23 | 62 |
| Composite wood boards | D | 47 | 24 | 20 | 54 |
| Composite wood boards | D | 54 | 24 | 25 | 63 |
| Composite wood boards | D | 58 | 22 | 30 | 70 |
| Composite wood boards | D | 59 | 23 | 43 | 45 |
| Composite wood boards | E | 27 | 21 | 6 | 201 |
| Composite wood boards | E | 55 | 26 | 30 | 167 |
| Composite wood boards | E | 60 | 20 | 40 | 183 |
| Composite wood boards | F | 20 | 28 | 5 | 54 |
| Composite wood boards | F | 33 | 22 | 5 | 38 |
| Composite wood boards | F | 36 | 24 | 7 | 86 |
| Composite wood boards | F | 45 | 37 | 20 | 77 |