Innovations to Inform Occupational Disease Etiology Using Biomonitoring Methods

Details

• Personal Author:
  Shimek JAM
• Description:
  The interaction of an individual with his/her work environment has been the focus of much attention. In the occupational setting, chemical exposures are rarely limited to one chemical. The association between chemical exposures in the workplace and diseases such as cancer are difficult to observe for several reasons, including the nature and duration of the exposure, latency period between exposure and disease and individual parameters such as occupation and use of personal protective equipment. Recognition of the association between chemical exposure and diseases such as cancer are important if disease prevention is to be achieved. A group of 18 known or suspected animal neurocarcinogens (ANCs) found in the workplace were considered in this project. The association between potential workplace chemical exposures and the risk of glioma was examined. First, self-reported work histories were used to develop a cumulative exposure score for each study participant. The entire work history was considered due to potentially long latency period between exposure and glioma diagnosis. The cumulative exposure score was based on the 18 ANCs found in the workplace, the length of time the study participant spent in that workplace and the occupation of the study participant while in that workplace. Scores were compared to glioma case/control status to identify possible associations. Associations between glioma case/control status and industry, occupation and individual ANCs were also evaluated. While a cumulative exposure score was generated based on the potential for occupational exposure to 18 different ANCs, these scores were not associated with an increased risk of glioma. The number of study participants assigned to the individual industry, occupation and ANC exposure groups were small. In some instances the odds ratios that were calculated for the exposure groups indicated an increased risk of glioma based on exposure but were not statistically significant. An increased risk of glioma based on potential exposure to one chemical, 3,3'-dimethylbenzidine dihydrochloride was detected and nearly statistically significant (p=0.07). SIC code 17-Special Trade Contractors and SIC code-20-Food and Kindred Products were two industries where an increased risk of glioma was detected but the resulting odds ratio was not statistically significant. These industries may warrant further study with a larger study population. Second, questionnaire data was used to examine the association between three compounds, acrylamide, 1,3-butadiene and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and glioma. Potential exposures were identified by study participant responses to questions related to industries and occupations where these chemicals were known to be present. Ever exposed versus never exposed variables were created to evaluate potential associations. Using questionnaire data, no statistically significant results were obtained for study chemicals. Finally, a biomarker of exposure study was conducted to examine the relationship between exposure to acrylamide and 1,3-butadiene, as determined by hemoglobin adduct analysis, and potential workplace exposures. Blood samples were analyzed for the presence of hemoglobin adducts and compared to potential occupational exposure to the chemicals based on current work status. Available data including demographics, smoking history and food frequency questionnaires were also examined. Analysis of the blood samples did detect the first reported observation of the pyr-Val hemoglobin adduct for 1,3-butadiene which is significant in that this adduct represents the formation of the most mutagenic epoxide formed during the metabolism of 1,3-butadiene and had not previously been observed in human blood samples. The biomarker study was small and did not provide strong evidence for occupational exposure to acrylamide or 1,3-butadiene. Of the demographic variables examined, the state of residence (Northern or Southern states) showed higher levels of the pyr-Val adduct lfor those study participants residing in the Southern states and the differences were statistically significant. Exposure to second hand smoke was also reported by study participants. Statistically significant differences in the geometric mean pyr-Val levels was also seen between study participants who rated their exposure to second hand smoke as light or moderate when compared to study participants who rated their exposure to second hand smoke as heavy. The difference between the geometric mean acrylamide adduct levels of smokers compared to non-smokers was also statistically significant as was the difference in adduct levels between those who ever smoked versus those who never smoked. As hemoglobin adducts reflect exposures that had occurred during the past 120 days the result suggests a need for further study of this association. There was one diet question that generated statistically significant differences for the glycidamide adduct of acrylamide, frequency of consumption of wheat, corn or millet containing products. However there was no increasing trend with increasing food consumption. Acrylamide adduct results were compared to results of the NHANES study released in December, 2010. Although the samples were analyzed by the same laboratory the acrylamide adduct results were generally lower and the glycidamide results generally higher for the two sets of samples. The hemoglobin adduct study did not show evidence of an association between potential occupational exposure and hemoglobin adduct levels. The study was limited by the number of study participants and the lack of industrial monitoring information that would confirm the occupational exposures. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Biomarkers Carcinogens Diet Hydrocarbons Occupational Exposure Occupational Health Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons Risk Assessment Risk Factors Safety Workplace

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• Keywords:
  1,3-Butadiene Acrylamide Biological Monitoring Chemicals Occupational Exposure Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons Risk Factors Work Environment
• Series:
  Grant Final Reports
• Publisher:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Final Grant Report
• Place as Subject:
  Illinois ; OSHA Region 5
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  OEP - Office of Extramural Programs
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  1-19
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20059341
• NTIS Accession Number:
  PB2021-100123
• Citation:
  Atlanta, GA: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, R36-OH-009638, 2011 Feb; :1-19
• Contact Point Address:
  Jo Anna M. Shimek, PhD, CIH, CSP, University of Illinois at Chicago, 362 Kelburn Rd., #326, Deerfield, IL 60015
• Email:
  Joanna.shimek@gmail.com
• CAS Registry Number:
  1,3-Butadiene (CAS RN 106-99-0) ; Acrylamide (CAS RN 79-06-1) ; o-Tolidine (CAS RN 119-93-7)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2011
• Performing Organization:
  University of Illinois at Chicago
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Start Date:
  20090901
• Source Full Name:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• End Date:
  20100831
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:50341c574f4d25a93479c774aef9d3f67c8b97350c6f909f3aada6b4e71339fee5643551edc3dd8b9de4664422c17fe56e4cfb0df232fb5f42ed7a072efa3dcd
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/218975/cdc_218975_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 153.14 KB ]