ABSTRACT
The EU human biomonitoring initiative, HBM4EU, aims to co-ordinate and advance human biomonitoring (HBM) across Europe. Within its remit, the project is gathering new, policy relevant, EU-wide data on occupational exposure to relevant priority chemicals and developing new approaches for occupational biomonitoring. In this manuscript, the hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)] study design is presented as the first example of this HBM4EU approach. This study involves eight European countries and plans to recruit 400 workers performing Cr(VI) surface treatment e.g. electroplating or stainless steel welding activities. The aim is to collect new data on current occupational exposure to Cr(VI) in Europe and to test new methods for Cr biomonitoring, specifically the analysis of Cr(VI) in exhaled breath condensate (EBC) and Cr in red blood cells (RBC) in addition to traditional urinary total Cr analyses. Furthermore, exposure data will be complemented with early biological effects data, including genetic and epigenetic effects. Personal air samples and wipe samples are collected in parallel to help informing the biomonitoring results. We present standard operational procedures (SOPs) to support the harmonized methodologies for the collection of occupational hygiene and HBM samples in different countries.
Subject(s)
Air Pollutants, Occupational , Chromium , Occupational Exposure , Biological Monitoring , Environmental Monitoring , Europe , HumansABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Although no human illness to date is confirmed to be attributed to engineered nanoparticles, occupational epidemiological studies are needed to verify the health effects of nanoparticles. This study used a repeated measures design to explore the potential adverse health effects of workers handling nanomaterials. METHODS: Study population was 206 nanomaterial-handling workers and 108 unexposed controls, who were recruited from 14 nanotechnology plants. They were followed up no less than two times in four years. A questionnaire was used to collect potential confounders and detailed work conditions. Control banding was adopted to categorize risk level for each participant as a surrogate marker of exposure. Health hazard markers include cardiopulmonary dysfunction markers, inflammation and oxidative damage markers, antioxidant enzymes activity, and genotoxicity markers. The Generalized Estimating Equation model was applied to analyze repeated measurements. RESULTS: In comparison to the controls, a significant dose-dependent increase on risk levels for the change of superoxide dismutase (p<0.01) and a significant increase of glutathione peroxidase change in risk level 1 was found for nanomaterial-handling workers. However, the change of cardiovascular dysfunction, lung damages, inflammation, oxidative damages, neurobehavioral and genotoxic markers were not found to be significantly associated with nanomaterials handling in this panel study. CONCLUSIONS: This repeated measurement study suggests that there was no evidence of potential adverse health effects under the existing workplace exposure levels among nanomaterials handling workers, except for the increase of antioxidant enzymes.
Subject(s)
Biomarkers/analysis , Nanostructures/adverse effects , Nanotechnology , Occupational Exposure/adverse effects , Adult , Antioxidants/metabolism , DNA Damage/drug effects , Dose-Response Relationship, Drug , Female , Follow-Up Studies , Humans , Inflammation/chemically induced , Inflammation/epidemiology , Longitudinal Studies , Male , Middle Aged , Oxidative Stress/drug effects , Taiwan/epidemiologyABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: We studied the impact of chlorinated agents exposure on exhaled breath condensate (EBC) biomarkers in cleaners. METHODS: Malondialdehyde (MDA), 4-hydroxynonenal (4-HNE), nitrites (NO2(-)), nitrates (NO3(-)), pH, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and ammonium (NH3(+)) were tested in EBC of 40 cleaners and 40 non-exposed controls. Pentraxin-3 (PTX3) and soluble type II receptor of IL-1 (sIL-1RII) were analyzed also in plasma. RESULTS: Levels of MDA-EBC, 4-HNE-EBC and NO3(-)-EBC were higher, while pH-EBC values were lower, in cleaners. MDA-EBC was associated with 4-HNE-EBC, NO3(-)-EBC and pH. 4-HNE-EBC correlated with PTX3. CONCLUSION: Professional exposure to chlorinated agents increases EBC biomarkers of oxidative stress and inflammation.