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Environmental and Occupational Exposure to Benzene and Oxidative Damage

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A special issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (ISSN 1660-4601). This special issue belongs to the section "Occupational Safety and Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 December 2020) | Viewed by 32729

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Prof. Dr. Giuseppe De Palma

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Section of Public Health and Human Sciences, Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences, and Public Health, University of Brescia, Piazzale Spedali Civili, 1, 25123 Brescia, Italy
Interests: occupational health; environmental health; gene-environment; metals; organic solvents; pollutants

Prof. Silvia Fustinoni

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University of Milan, Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health and Fondazione Ca’ Granda IRCCS Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Via San Barnaba 8, 20122 Milan, Italy
Interests: occupational and environmental toxicology of organic solvents, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, pesticides; analytical chemistry applied to environmental toxicology; biological monitoring; risk assessment

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health welcomes submissions for a Special Issue of the journal. This Special Issue will focus on environmental and occupational exposure to benzene and oxidative damage.

Benzene is still a chemical with public health concerns, due to its widespread use and its toxicological properties. It has been a long time since the compound was recognized as a human carcinogen, targeting, in particular, human bone marrow, but more recently other relevant health effects have been highlighted, in particular, the risk of male infertility and congenital anomalies.

In the context of environmental exposure to benzene, children are a particularly susceptible as potential targets.

A main toxicological mechanism through which benzene exerts its health effects is the induction of oxidative stress, which is linked, in particular, to its metabolism. Oxidative stress may cause multiple downstream consequences in different organs, including direct and indirect genetic damage and genetic dysregulation related to interference to epigenetic mechanisms.

Prof. Giuseppe De Palma
Prof. Silvia Fustinoni
Guest Editors

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Keywords

benzene
cancer
oxidative stress
metabolism
epigenetic
miRNA
DNA methylation
8-oxodG

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

9 pages, 602 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Risk Assessment on Benzene Exposure among Gasoline Station Workers

by Sunisa Chaiklieng, Pornnapa Suggaravetsiri and Herman Autrup

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2019, 16(14), 2545; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16142545 - 16 Jul 2019

Cited by 57 | Viewed by 7910

Abstract

Benzene is a human carcinogen presented in gasoline (1% by volume). It is also found in vehicle exhaust. The aim of this study was to assess the health risk of inhalation exposure to benzene among gasoline station workers. The ambient benzene concentration was measured by personal sampling from 150 gasoline station workers (137 fueling workers and 13 cashiers). Additional data of working characteristics were collected by interviews and on-site observations. All workers were non-smokers and passive smoking was limited. Risk assessment of inhalation exposure was determined using the United State Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), and showed a high risk of adverse health effect (Hazard Quotients (HQ) >1) in 51.33% of workers. The cancer risk was increased from 1.35 × 10⁻⁸ to 1.52 × 10⁻⁴, and 70.67% of the workers had a lifetime cancer risk (>Inhalation Unit Risk (IUR): 2.2 × 10⁻⁶). A significantly higher risk was found in fueling workers compared to cashiers, and in workers at gasoline stations in inner-city zones (suburban and urban), compared to rural zones. All risk estimations were based upon a single measurement in an eight hour working period, which was assumed to be the average shift length for all working days in a year (250 days). The increased health risk suggests that there should be health surveillance for workers in order to protect them from exposure to benzene. In addition to benzene, the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) present in gasoline may influence health outcomes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental and Occupational Exposure to Benzene and Oxidative Damage)

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32 pages, 1940 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Environmental Assessment and Evaluation of Oxidative Stress and Genotoxicity Biomarkers Related to Chronic Occupational Exposure to Benzene

by Isabele C. Costa-Amaral, Leandro V. B. Carvalho, Marcus Vinicius C. Santos, Daniel Valente, Angélica C. Pereira, Victor O. Figueiredo, Juliana Mendonça de Souza, Vinicio S. Castro, Maria de Fátima Trancoso, Antônio Sérgio A. Fonseca, Vanessa G. Milagres, Michele P. R. Mendes, Maria José N. Paiva, Leiliane C. André, Renato M. Borges, Marco Antônio C. Menezes, Sérgio R. Alves, Eline S. Gonçalves, Herbert Ary Sisenando, Jamila A. Perini, Mônica S. Oliveira, Maria Juliana Moura-Correa, Liliane R. Teixeira, Andrew R. Collins, Rita de Cássia O. C. Mattos, Paula N. Sarcinelli and Ariane L. Larentis Show full author list Hide full author list

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2019, 16(12), 2240; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16122240 - 25 Jun 2019

Cited by 27 | Viewed by 5932

Abstract

Environmental and occupational exposure to benzene from fuels is a major cause for concern for national and international authorities, as benzene is a known carcinogen in humans and there is no safe limit for exposure to carcinogens. The objective of this study was to evaluate the genotoxic effects of chronic occupational exposure to benzene among two groups of workers: filling station workers (Group I) and security guards working at vehicles entrances (Group II), both on the same busy highway in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Sociodemographic data on the workers were evaluated; the concentration of benzene/toluene (B/T) in atmospheric air and individual trans,trans-muconic acid (ttMA) and S-phenylmercapturic acid (S-PMA) were measured; oxidative stress was analyzed by catalase (CAT), glutathione S-transferase (GST), superoxide dismutase (SOD), thiol groups (THIOL) and malondialdehyde (MDA); genotoxicity was measured by metaphases with chromosomal abnormalities (MCA) and nuclear abnormalities, comet assay using the enzyme formamidopyrimidine DNA glycosylase (C-FPG), and methylation of repetitive element LINE-1, CDKN2B and KLF6 genes. Eighty-six workers participated: 51 from Group I and 35 from Group II. The B/T ratio was similar for both groups, but Group I had greater oscillation of benzene concentrations because of their work activities. No differences in ttMA and S-PMA, and no clinical changes were found between both groups, but linearity was observed between leukocyte count and ttMA; and 15% of workers had leukocyte counts less than 4.5 × 10⁹ cells L⁻¹, demanding close worker’s attention. No differences were observed between the two groups for THIOL, MDA, MCA, or nuclear abnormalities. A multiple linear relationship was obtained for the biomarkers MCA and C-FPG. A significant correlation was found between length of time in current job and the biomarkers C-FPG, MCA, GST, and MDA. Although both populations had chronic exposure to benzene, the filling station workers were exposed to higher concentrations of benzene during their work activities, indicating an increased risk of DNA damage. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental and Occupational Exposure to Benzene and Oxidative Damage)

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10 pages, 302 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effect of Benzene Exposure on the Urinary Biomarkers of Nucleic Acid Oxidation in Two Cohorts of Gasoline Pump Attendants

by Mariella Carrieri, Daniela Pigini, Andrea Martinelli, Enrico Paci, Federica Maratini, Fabiola Salamon and Giovanna Tranfo

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2019, 16(1), 129; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16010129 - 5 Jan 2019

Cited by 18 | Viewed by 4215

Abstract

(1) Background: The oxidized guanine derivatives excreted into urine, products of DNA and RNA oxidation and repair, are used as biomarkers of oxidative damage in humans. This study aims to evaluate oxidative damage in gasoline pump attendants occupationally exposed to benzene. Benzene is contained in the gasoline but it is also produced from traffic and from smoking. (2) Methods: Twenty-nine gasoline pump attendants from two major cities of Saudi Arabia and 102 from Italy were studied for urinary 8-oxo-7,8-dihydroguanine (8-oxoGua), 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2′-deoxyguanosine (8-oxodGuo), 8-oxo-7,8-dihydroguanosine (8-oxoGuo), and S-phenyl-mercapturic acid (SPMA) for benzene exposure and urinary cotinine for smoking status assessment by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Airborne benzene was also assessed in the Italian group by gas-chromatography with flame ionization detector (GC-FID). (3) Results: The results suggest that high levels of benzene exposure can cause an accumulation of SPMA and bring about the formation of the oxidation biomarkers studied to saturation. At low exposure levels, SPMA and oxidation biomarker levels were correlated among them and were associated with the smoking habit. (4) Conclusions: The study confirms the association between benzene exposure and the excretion of nucleic acid oxidation biomarkers and enhances the importance of measuring the smoking habit, as it can significantly influence oxidative damage, especially when the exposure levels are low. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental and Occupational Exposure to Benzene and Oxidative Damage)

18 pages, 1839 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Gene Expression Response in Peripheral Blood Cells of Petroleum Workers Exposed to Sub-Ppm Benzene Levels

by Katarina M. Jørgensen, Ellen Færgestad Mosleth, Kristian Hovde Liland, Nancy B. Hopf, Rita Holdhus, Anne-Kristin Stavrum, Bjørn Tore Gjertsen and Jorunn Kirkeleit

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(11), 2385; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15112385 - 27 Oct 2018

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 4030

Abstract

Altered gene expression in pathways relevant to leukaemogenesis, as well as reduced levels of circulating lymphocytes, have been reported in workers that were exposed to benzene concentrations below 1 ppm. In this study, we analysed whole blood global gene expression patterns in a worker cohort with altered levels of T cells and immunoglobulins IgM and IgA at three time points; pre-shift, post-shift (after three days), and post-recovery (12 hours later). Eight benzene exposed tank workers performing maintenance work in crude oil cargo tanks with a mean benzene exposure of 0.3 ppm (range 0.1–0.5 ppm) and five referents considered to be unexposed were examined by gene expression arrays. By using our data as independent validation, we reanalysed selected genes that were reported to be altered from previous studies of workers being exposed to sub-ppm benzene levels Four out of six genes previously proposed as marker genes in chronically exposed workers separated benzene exposed workers from unexposed referents (CLEC5, ACSL1, PRG2, IFNB1). Even better separation of benzene exposed workers and referents was observed for short-term exposure for genes in the Jak-STAT pathway, particularly elevated expression of IL6 and reduced expression of IL19. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental and Occupational Exposure to Benzene and Oxidative Damage)

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14 pages, 380 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Epigenetic and Transcriptional Modifications in Repetitive Elements in Petrol Station Workers Exposed to Benzene and MTBE

by Federica Rota, Anastasia Conti, Laura Campo, Chiara Favero, Laura Cantone, Valeria Motta, Elisa Polledri, Rosa Mercadante, Giorgio Dieci, Valentina Bollati and Silvia Fustinoni

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(4), 735; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15040735 - 12 Apr 2018

Cited by 18 | Viewed by 4402

Abstract

Benzene, a known human carcinogen, and methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE), not classifiable as to its carcinogenicity, are fuel-related pollutants. This study investigated the effect of these chemicals on epigenetic and transcriptional alterations in DNA repetitive elements. In 89 petrol station workers and 90 non-occupationally exposed subjects the transcriptional activity of retrotransposons (LINE-1, Alu), the methylation on repeated-element DNA, and of H3K9 histone, were investigated in peripheral blood lymphocytes. Median work shift exposure to benzene and MTBE was 59 and 408 µg/m³ in petrol station workers, and 4 and 3.5 µg/m³, in controls. Urinary benzene (BEN-U), S-phenylmercapturic acid, and MTBE were significantly higher in workers than in controls, while trans,trans-muconic acid (tt-MA) was comparable between the two groups. Increased BEN-U was associated with increased Alu-Y and Alu-J expression; moreover, increased tt-MA was associated with increased Alu-Y and Alu-J and LINE-1 (L1)-5′UTR expression. Among repetitive element methylation, only L1-Pa5 was hypomethylated in petrol station workers compared to controls. While L1-Ta and Alu-YD6 methylation was not associated with benzene exposure, a negative association with urinary MTBE was observed. The methylation status of histone H3K9 was not associated with either benzene or MTBE exposure. Overall, these findings only partially support previous observations linking benzene exposure with global DNA hypomethylation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental and Occupational Exposure to Benzene and Oxidative Damage)

15 pages, 1060 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Managing Exposure to Benzene and Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons at Two Oil Refineries 1977–2014

by Tapani Tuomi, Henna Veijalainen and Tiina Santonen

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2018, 15(2), 197; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph15020197 - 24 Jan 2018

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 5065

Abstract

Air concentrations of and inhalation exposure to total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) and benzene was monitored separately at two oil refineries from 1977 to 2014. Prevention policies and control measures that may explain changes were surveyed. The aim was to evaluate how the application of of Occupational Health and Safety Assessment Series OHSAS 18001.04 principles as well as Environmental protection Agency EPA and European Oil Company Organisation for Environment, Health and Safety CONCAWE practices have influenced air concentrations. Benzene air concentrations declined in 11 of 17 units, six of which were associated with declining exposures. Benzene air concentrations declined across all units on average by 46%. This amounts to an average yearly decline of 1.7%. TPH air concentrations declined in 10 of 17 units, seven of which were associated with declining exposures. The average decline in TPH air concentrations was 49%, corresponding to 1.3% per year. As a result, average working day exposure in 10 of 17 units have declined significantly and today, benzene and TPH exposure in most units are well below 10% of the current Occupational Exposure Limit (OEL_8h:s). A decline in air concentrations have coincided with consistent implementation of control measures. Such measures include on-line monitoring of leaks; benzene recovery; floating container roofs; improved valves and seals; hermetic pumps; recovery of loading gases and instalment of torches in terminals; cutback in coke combustion; a new production line spanning directly from the dock to aromatics production; and recovery of loading gases in the doc. Other tools in exposure management include personal leak monitors, on-line measurements, monitoring campaigns, risk assessment, and availability and user training of protective equipment. However, improvements are still needed. Hydrocarbon or benzene air concentrations have not declined in 8 of 17 units, in some of which concentrations exceed 10% of the relevant OEL_8h value. In addition, for benzene even 10% of the current OEL, 0.1 ppm, might still possess a risk. With this in mind, methods to estimate exposure at the refineries need to be improved to enable measuring benzene concentrations <0.1 ppm. Shut downs of the refinery have been associated with peaks in exposure concentrations. Consequently, effort should be placed on safe working methods pertaining to shutdowns. Also, the connection and detachment of hoses continues to be problematic from the point of view of controlling exposure. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental and Occupational Exposure to Benzene and Oxidative Damage)

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