Genotoxic risk assessment in white blood cells of occupationally exposed workers before and after alteration of the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) profile in the production material: comparison with PAH air and urinary metabolite levels.

OBJECTIVE: Workers in various industries can be exposed to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The relationship between biomarkers of genotoxic risk, PAH compounds in air (ambient monitoring) and PAH metabolites in urine (internal exposure) were studied in 17 workers exposed to PAHs in a fireproof-material producing plant before and 3 months after the PAH profile was altered in the binding pitch. METHODS: Two biomarkers of exposure, specific DNA adducts of (+/-)-r-7,t-8-dihydroxy-t-9,10-oxy-7,8,9,10-tetrahydrobenzo[a]pyrene (anti-BPDE) and non-specific DNA adduct of 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-oxodGuo) were determined in white blood cells (WBCs). In addition, DNA strand breaks were analysed in lymphocytes by single-cell gel electrophoresis in a genotoxic risk assessment. Sixteen PAH compounds in air were determined by personal air sampling, and hydroxylated metabolites of phenanthrene, pyrene and naphthalene were determined in urine. RESULTS: After substitution of the binding pitch the concentrations of benzo[a]pyrene in air decreased (P<0.01). No changes could be observed for pyrene, while levels of phenanthrene (P=0.0013) and naphthalene (P=0.0346) in air increased. Consequently, median DNA adduct rates of anti-BPDE decreased after alteration of the production material (from 0.9 to <0.5 adducts/10(8) nucleotides). No changes in the excretion of 1-hydroxypyrene in urine could be determined, whereas increased levels of 1-, 2+9-, 3- and 4-hydroxyphenanthrene (P<0.0001) and 1-naphthol and 2-naphthol (P=0.0072) were found in urine. In addition, a statistically significant increase in DNA strand break frequencies (P<0.01) and elevated 8-oxodGuo adduct levels (P=0.7819, not statistically significant) were found in the WBCs of exposed workers 3 months after the PAH profile in the binding pitch had been altered. CONCLUSION: The results presented here show that the increased concentration of naphthalene and/or phenanthrene in the air at the work place could induce the formation of DNA strand breaks and alkali-labile sites in WBCs of exposed workers.

[Angiocentric lymphoma of the face: report of the 2 cases]. / Lymphome angiocentrique de la face : à propos de 2 cas.

Angiocentric lymphoma of the face is a rare malignancy. During 11 years, only two patients were treated for a lymphoma of the face. The first patient, 31-year-old, had an angiocentric lymphoma of the nasal cavity, the second patient, 40-year-old, had an angiocentric lymphoma of the nasopharynx and the maxillary sinuses, with an extension the hard palate. According to the Ann Arbor classification, the disease was stage IEab and stage IIEbb, respectively. The first patient was treated by chemotherapy alone (COP regimen) and the second patient underwent combined chemotherapy (CHOP) and radiotherapy. The follow-up was marked by progression of the disease 7 and 9 months after the end of the treatment in the two cases. For the angiocentric lymphoma, treatment based on radiotherapy or chemotherapy alone or combined does not often provide local control and the overall survival rate does not exceed 40% at 5 years.