Department of Pharmaceutical Toxicology, University of Hacettepe, 06100 Ankara, Turkey.
Arch Toxicol. 2013 Jan;87(1):145-53. doi: 10.1007/s00204-012-0961-9. Epub 2012 Oct 26.
Formaldehyde (FA), which is an important chemical with a wide commercial use, has been classified as carcinogenic to humans by International Research on Cancer (IARC). The genotoxic and carcinogenic potential of FA has been documented in mammalian cells and in rodents. A recent evaluation by the E.U. Scientific Committee for Occupational Exposure Limits (SCOEL) anticipated that an 8-h time-weighted average exposure to 0.2 ppm FA would not be irritating and not genotoxic in humans. In order to verify this prediction, a field study was performed that aimed at evaluating immune alterations and genetic damage in peripheral lymphocytes of workers in medium density fiberboard plants exposed to a level of FA equivalent to the OEL recommended by SCOEL (0.2 ppm). Subsets of peripheral lymphocytes, immunoglobulins (IgG, IgA, IgM), complement proteins, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) levels were evaluated. DNA damage of the workers was assessed by the Comet assay. The absolute numbers and the percentages of T lymphocytes and of natural killer cells, and the levels of TNF-α were higher than the controls, whereas IgG and IgM levels were found to be lower in workers. Other examined immunological parameters were not different from those of the controls. There was no increased DNA damage in the workers compared to controls.
甲醛（FA）是一种具有广泛商业用途的重要化学物质，已被国际癌症研究机构（IARC）归类为人类致癌物质。FA 的遗传毒性和致癌潜能已在哺乳动物细胞和啮齿动物中得到证实。欧盟职业接触限值科学委员会（SCOEL）最近的评估预计，暴露于 0.2ppm FA 的 8 小时时间加权平均浓度在人体中既不会刺激也不会产生遗传毒性。为了验证这一预测，进行了一项现场研究，旨在评估暴露于 SCOEL 推荐的职业接触限值（0.2ppm）水平下的中密度纤维板厂工人外周血淋巴细胞的免疫改变和遗传损伤。评估了外周血淋巴细胞亚群、免疫球蛋白（IgG、IgA、IgM）、补体蛋白和肿瘤坏死因子-α（TNF-α）水平。通过彗星试验评估工人的 DNA 损伤。工人的 T 淋巴细胞和自然杀伤细胞的绝对数量和百分比以及 TNF-α水平高于对照组，而 IgG 和 IgM 水平则低于对照组。其他检查的免疫参数与对照组没有差异。与对照组相比，工人的 DNA 损伤没有增加。
