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The genotoxic effects of occupational exposure to low levels of benzene (71432) were assessed. The study group included 33 men occupationally exposed to low levels of benzene from gasoline and 33 controls. Exposure to benzene over a work shift was estimated by personal air sampling in the breathing zone. In addition, venous blood samples and urine samples were collected from the men prior to and after the work shift for determination of single strand breaks in DNA of leukocytes and urinary levels of the oxidative DNA adduct 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8OHdG). The 8 hour time weighted average concentration of benzene in the breathing zone was 0.13 parts per million. Exposed workers had a significant, dose dependent increase of single strand breaks over the shift compared with controls. Urinary 8OHdG increased over the shift in exposed workers but not in controls. The highest values of 8OHdG among exposed workers were observed in late evening; values decreased slightly by the next morning. Multiple linear analyses revealed a significant association between exposure level of benzene during the shift and the excretion of 8OHdG in the urine over the shift among exposed workers. The authors conclude that genotoxic effects of benzene can occur in humans at relatively low exposure levels; the methods used in this study appear to be sensitive markers for benzene genotoxicity.
American Journal of Industrial Medicine, 30(3):317-324, 1996. (37 references)
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