Environmental exposure to human carcinogens in teenagers and the association with DNA damage

Journal Article · Sun Jan 15 00:00:00 EST 2017 · Environmental Research

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/J.ENVRES.2016.10.012· OSTI ID:22689523

Franken, Carmen ^[1]; Koppen, Gudrun; Lambrechts, Nathalie; Govarts, Eva ^[1]; Bruckers, Liesbeth ^[2]; Den Hond, Elly ^[1]; Loots, Ilse ^[3]; Nelen, Vera ^[4]; Sioen, Isabelle ^[5]; Nawrot, Tim S. ^[6]; Baeyens, Willy ^[7]; Van Larebeke, Nicolas ^[7]; Boonen, Francis; Ooms, Daniëlla; Wevers, Mai; Jacobs, Griet ^[1]; Covaci, Adrian ^[8]; Schettgen, Thomas ^[9]; Schoeters, Greet ^[1]

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1. Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Mol (Belgium)
2. Interuniversity Institute for Biostatistics and Statistical Bioinformatics, Hasselt University, Hasselt (Belgium)
3. Political and Social Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp (Belgium)
4. Provincial Institute for Hygiene, Antwerp (Belgium)
5. Department of Public Health, Ghent University, Ghent (Belgium)
6. Centre for Environmental Sciences, Hasselt University, Diepenbeek (Belgium)
7. Department of Analytical and Environmental Chemistry, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels (Belgium)
8. Toxicological Centre, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp (Belgium)
9. Department of Occupational and Social Medicine, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen (Germany)

Background: We investigated whether human environmental exposure to chemicals that are labeled as (potential) carcinogens leads to increased (oxidative) damage to DNA in adolescents. Material and methods: Six hundred 14–15-year-old youngsters were recruited all over Flanders (Belgium) and in two areas with important industrial activities. DNA damage was assessed by alkaline and formamidopyrimidine DNA glycosylase (Fpg) modified comet assays in peripheral blood cells and analysis of urinary 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) levels. Personal exposure to potentially carcinogenic compounds was measured in urine, namely: chromium, cadmium, nickel, 1-hydroxypyrene as a proxy for exposure to other carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), t,t-muconic acid as a metabolite of benzene, 2,5-dichlorophenol (2,5-DCP), organophosphate pesticide metabolites, and di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) metabolites. In blood, arsenic, polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) congeners 118 and 156, hexachlorobenzene (HCB), dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) were analyzed. Levels of methylmercury (MeHg) were measured in hair. Multiple linear regression models were used to establish exposure-response relationships. Results: Biomarkers of exposure to PAHs and urinary chromium were associated with higher levels of both 8-OHdG in urine and DNA damage detected by the alkaline comet assay. Concentrations of 8-OHdG in urine increased in relation with increasing concentrations of urinary t,t-muconic acid, cadmium, nickel, 2,5-DCP, and DEHP metabolites. Increased concentrations of PFOA in blood were associated with higher levels of DNA damage measured by the alkaline comet assay, whereas DDT was associated in the same direction with the Fpg-modified comet assay. Inverse associations were observed between blood arsenic, hair MeHg, PCB 156 and HCB, and urinary 8-OHdG. The latter exposure biomarkers were also associated with higher fish intake. Urinary nickel and t,t-muconic acid were inversely associated with the alkaline comet assay. Conclusion: This cross-sectional study found associations between current environmental exposure to (potential) human carcinogens in 14–15-year-old Flemish adolescents and short-term (oxidative) damage to DNA. Prospective follow-up will be required to investigate whether long-term effects may occur due to complex environmental exposures. - Highlights: • Exposure to (potential) carcinogens is associated with (oxidative) damage to DNA. • Most associations of exposures are with urinary 8-OHdG. • 1-Hydroxypyrene and chromium are associated with the comet assay and 8-OHdG. • PFOA is associated with higher levels of DNA damage in the alkaline comet assay.

• OSTI ID: 22689523
• Journal Information: Environmental Research, Vol. 152; Other Information: Copyright (c) 2016 Elsevier Science B.V., Amsterdam, The Netherlands, All rights reserved.; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0013-9351
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

37 INORGANIC
ORGANIC
PHYSICAL AND ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ARSENIC
BENZENE
BIOLOGICAL MARKERS
BLOOD CELLS
CADMIUM
CARCINOGENS
CHROMIUM
DDT
DNA
DNA DAMAGES
ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURE
HIGH-PERFORMANCE LIQUID CHROMATOGRAPHY
ICP MASS SPECTROSCOPY
METHYLMERCURY
NICKEL
POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS
URINE