Wrońska-Nofer Teresa, Palus Jadwiga, Krajewski Wojciech, Jajte Jolanta, Kucharska Małgorzata, Stetkiewicz Jan, Wasowicz Wojciech, Rydzyński Konrad
Department of Toxicology and Carcinogenesis, Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine, 8 Teresy St., 91-348 Lodz, Poland.
Mutat Res. 2009 Jun 18;666(1-2):39-43. doi: 10.1016/j.mrfmmm.2009.03.012. Epub 2009 Apr 5.
Occupational exposure to anaesthetics such as nitrous oxide (N(2)O) and halogenated hydrocarbons has been suggested to increase risk of genetic damage. However, the dose-dependency of genotoxic effects has not been unequivocally established and their relation to occupational exposure limit (OEL) remain obscure. In this study, the genotoxicity associated with occupational exposure to anaesthetics has been investigated in a group of 55 female nurses and 29 male anaesthesiologists active for at least 5 years in a working environment containing variable concentrations of N(2)O and halogenated hydrocarbons. 83 unexposed health care workers (52 female nurses and 31 male doctors) matched for age, gender, smoking habit and employment duration were included in the control group. Genotoxicity has been assessed using comet test. Concentrations of nitrous oxide, sevoflurane and isoflurane monitored by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry made possible to relate the extent of DNA damage to the level of exposure. Our results for the first time document a positive correlation between the DNA damage and the N(2)O levels in the ambient air. By contrast, no correlation has been observed between genotoxic effects and concentrations of sevoflurane and isoflurane. The extent of genetic injury was especially aggravated among nurses and anaesthesiologists exposed to N(2)O in concentrations exceeding OEL (180 mg/m(3)). We conclude that occupational exposure to N(2)O is associated with increased DNA damage and that the level of exposure plays a critical role in this regard.
职业暴露于一氧化二氮（N₂O）和卤代烃等麻醉剂被认为会增加遗传损伤风险。然而，遗传毒性效应的剂量依赖性尚未明确确立，其与职业接触限值（OEL）的关系仍不清楚。在本研究中，对一组在含有不同浓度N₂O和卤代烃的工作环境中至少工作5年的55名女护士和29名男麻醉师进行了与职业接触麻醉剂相关的遗传毒性研究。对照组纳入了83名年龄、性别、吸烟习惯和工作年限相匹配的未暴露医护人员（52名女护士和31名男医生）。使用彗星试验评估遗传毒性。通过气相色谱和质谱监测一氧化二氮、七氟醚和异氟醚的浓度，从而能够将DNA损伤程度与暴露水平联系起来。我们的结果首次证明了DNA损伤与环境空气中N₂O水平之间存在正相关。相比之下，未观察到遗传毒性效应与七氟醚和异氟醚浓度之间存在相关性。在暴露于超过OEL（180 mg/m³）浓度的N₂O的护士和麻醉师中，遗传损伤程度尤其严重。我们得出结论，职业暴露于N₂O与DNA损伤增加有关，并且暴露水平在这方面起着关键作用。
