Tavares Ana, Aimonen Kukka, Ndaw Sophie, Fučić Aleksandra, Catalán Julia, Duca Radu Corneliu, Godderis Lode, Gomes Bruno C, Janasik Beata, Ladeira Carina, Louro Henriqueta, Namorado Sónia, Nieuwenhuyse An Van, Norppa Hannu, Scheepers Paul T J, Ventura Célia, Verdonck Jelle, Viegas Susana, Wasowicz Wojciech, Santonen Tiina, Silva Maria João
Department of Human Genetics, National Institute of Health Dr. Ricardo Jorge (INSA), Av. Padre Cruz, 1649-016 Lisbon, Portugal.
Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, 00250 Helsinki, Finland.
Toxics. 2022 Aug 18;10(8):483. doi: 10.3390/toxics10080483.
A study was conducted within the European Human Biomonitoring Initiative (HBM4EU) to characterize occupational exposure to Cr(VI). Herein we present the results of biomarkers of genotoxicity and oxidative stress, including micronucleus analysis in lymphocytes and reticulocytes, the comet assay in whole blood, and malondialdehyde and 8-oxo-2′-deoxyguanosine in urine. Workers from several Cr(VI)-related industrial activities and controls from industrial (within company) and non-industrial (outwith company) environments were included. The significantly increased genotoxicity (p = 0.03 for MN in lymphocytes and reticulocytes; p < 0.001 for comet assay data) and oxidative stress levels (p = 0.007 and p < 0.001 for MDA and 8-OHdG levels in pre-shift urine samples, respectively) that were detected in the exposed workers over the outwith company controls suggest that Cr(VI) exposure might still represent a health risk, particularly, for chrome painters and electrolytic bath platers, despite the low Cr exposure. The within-company controls displayed DNA and chromosomal damage levels that were comparable to those of the exposed group, highlighting the relevance of considering all industry workers as potentially exposed. The use of effect biomarkers proved their capacity to detect the early biological effects from low Cr(VI) exposure, and to contribute to identifying subgroups that are at higher risk. Overall, this study reinforces the need for further re-evaluation of the occupational exposure limit and better application of protection measures. However, it also raised some additional questions and unexplained inconsistencies that need follow-up studies to be clarified.
在欧洲人类生物监测倡议（HBM4EU）框架内开展了一项研究，以描述职业性六价铬暴露情况。在此，我们展示了遗传毒性和氧化应激生物标志物的结果，包括淋巴细胞和网织红细胞中的微核分析、全血中的彗星试验，以及尿液中的丙二醛和8-氧代-2'-脱氧鸟苷。研究纳入了来自多项与六价铬相关工业活动的工人，以及来自工业（公司内部）和非工业（公司外部）环境的对照人员。与公司外部对照人员相比，暴露工人中检测到的遗传毒性（淋巴细胞和网织红细胞中的微核，p = 0.03；彗星试验数据，p < 0.001）和氧化应激水平显著升高（班前尿液样本中丙二醛和8-羟基脱氧鸟苷水平，分别为p = 0.007和p < 0.001），这表明尽管六价铬暴露水平较低，但六价铬暴露可能仍对健康构成风险，尤其是对镀铬工人和电解槽镀工。公司内部对照人员的DNA和染色体损伤水平与暴露组相当，这突出了将所有行业工人视为潜在暴露人群的重要性。效应生物标志物的使用证明了它们能够检测低水平六价铬暴露的早期生物学效应，并有助于识别高风险亚组。总体而言，本研究强化了进一步重新评估职业接触限值和更好地应用保护措施的必要性。然而，它也提出了一些其他问题和无法解释的不一致之处，需要后续研究加以澄清。
