Genotoxicity to human cells induced by air particulates isolated during the Kuwait oil fires.

In an effort to examine the potential of exposure to soot from the 1991 oil fires in the Kuwait desert for inducing genetic effects we studied the in vitro genotoxicity of this material. Air particulates isolated near the Kuwait oil fires were studied using three assays. Dose-dependent increases were observed for both sister chromatid exchanges in human peripheral blood lymphocytes and mutation at the hprt locus in the metabolically competent human lymphoblast cell line AHH-1. Similar magnitudes of response were seen using these two assays when testing a standard air particulate sample which had been isolated from the Washington, DC, area. Using the 32P-postlabeling assay, no increase in DNA adduct formation was observed in AHH-1 cells treated with particulates isolated from sampling in Kuwait.

The presence of urinary cellular sediment and albuminuria in newspaper pressworkers exposed to solvents.

To investigate the relationship between exposure to organic solvents and the presence of increased urinary cellular sediment, we conducted a cross-sectional study of 215 newspaper pressroom workers who were exposed to solvent and lubricant mixtures. Thirty-two compositors were surveyed as referents. Industrial hygiene measurements showed low-level airborne exposures to organic solvents (primarily naphthas) and minimal airborne exposure to glycol ethers. There was a high prevalence of solvent-related dermatitis indicating there was significant dermal exposure to these substances. Pressworkers were exposed to solvent mixtures that were associated with dose-related increases in leukocyturia alone or in urinary cellular sediment (erythrocyturia and/or leukocyturia). The presence of urinary cellular sediment was associated with increasing frequency of use of five particular organic solvent mixtures. These results suggest that the increase in urinary cellular sediment may be due, at least in part, to the effects of solvents on the kidney. Consistent with this hypothesis, 16% of pressmen and no compositors were found to have primarily low-grade albuminuria detectable by dipstick. Workers with urinary cellular sediment were significantly more likely to have detectable albuminuria. Albuminuria was more likely to occur with increased frequency of use of four particular solvent mixtures. The presence of urinary cellular sediment was less likely to occur with occasional use of analgesics suggesting a possible etiologic role for acute or chronic urinary tract inflammation.