Assessment of DNA Damage in Workers Exposed to Roofing Asphalt

Details

• Personal Author:
  DeBord, D. Gayle ; Hayden, Charles S. II ; Marlow, David A. ; Mierz J ; Reid TM ; Rinehart, Richard D. ; Toraason MA ; Werren D ; DeBord, D. Gayle ; Hayden, Charles S. II ; Marlow, David A. ; Mierz J ; Reid TM ; Rinehart, Richard D. ; Toraason MA ; Werren D
• Description:
  To determine the potential for increased genetic damage due to asphalt-fume exposure, the single cell gel electrophoresis (comet) assay was used to measure DNA strand breaks in peripheral blood leukocytes at the start and end of a work week that involved exposure to asphalt fume, and in some cases coal-tar pitch. The study population consisted of 25 roofers exposed to hot asphalt and 12 construction workers not exposed to asphalt during the past 5 years. Air monitoring and urinary 1-OH-pyrene levels were used to assess PAH exposure. DNA damage is expressed as %Tail DNA (+/- S.E.M.). The average %Tail DNA at the start of the week was 15.1 +/- 0.6 among all roofers and 14.3 +/- 1.1 among controls. The average %Tail DNA at the end of the week was 16.7 +/- 0.6 among roofers and 14.5 +/- 1.0 among controls. In some cases roofers (n=18) were exposed to coal tar pitch during removal of existing roofing materials prior to applying hot asphalt. These roofers had higher air levels of total particulates and benzene solubles as well as urinary 1-OH-pyrene than a subset of roofers (n=7) not exposed to coal-tar pitch for at least 3 months. Start of the week levels of DNA damage were lower in the non-pitch exposed group of roofers (13.7 +/- 0.7) than in the pitch exposed group (16.1 +/- 0.6). End of the week levels of DNA damage were somewhat higher in the pitch-exposed roofers (16.9 +/- 0.8) compared to the group of roofers who were not exposed to pitch (16.1 +/- 0.6). Coal-tar pitch may contribute to higher basal levels of DNA damage than exposure to asphalt fume alone. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Air Pollutants, Occupational Construction Industry Environmental Exposure Environmental Monitoring Hydrocarbons Occupational Exposure Occupational Health Safety
• Keywords:
  Air Monitoring Asphalt Fumes Coal Tar Coal Tar Pitch Construction Workers DNA Damage Exposure Levels Fumes Occupational Exposure Roofers Roofing Industry Workers

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• ISSN:
  1096-6080
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Abstract or Summary ; Abstract or Summary
• Place as Subject:
  Massachusetts ; Ohio ; OSHA Region 1 ; OSHA Region 5
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) ; National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  DBBS - Division of Biomedical and Behavioral Sciences ; DBBS - Division of Biomedical and Behavioral Sciences
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health ; Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America ; North America
• Volume:
  54
• Issue:
  1
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20021050
• Citation:
  Toxicologist 2000 Mar; 54(1):230
• CAS Registry Number:
  Benzene (CAS RN 71-43-2) ; Benzene (CAS RN 71-43-2)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2000
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Source Full Name:
  The Toxicologist. Society of Toxicology 39th Annual Meeting, March 19-23, 2000, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:597231797551794b910bd863e3b7a7057e3b951d387eb79930afb9c4b81b56a76800aa4ab9254e7353e89d6c6117ada09054f6ff8c0b1ac223f996dbcd78b2d8
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/198623/cdc_198623_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 111.47 KB ]