EFFECTS OF KEROSENE CLEANING ON THE FORMATION OF DNA ADDUCTS IN THE SKIN AND LUNG TISSUES OF MICE DERMALLY EXPOSED TO USED GASOLINE ENGINE OIL

Abstract

Used gasoline engine oils (UGEO) are carcinogenic and/ or mutagenic in long-term studies and capable of increasing the number of mutagen-or carcinogen-DNA adducts when applied dermally to mice. The carcinogenic or mutagenic risk of UGEO has been attributed to the concentration of polycyclic aromatic compounds (PAC) that accumulate in the lubricating system during combustion of gasoline. When dermal exposure to UGEO takes place, the use of hand cleansers, solvent-or d-limonenebased, is commonly recommended for washing, In this study, female mice aged 4-6 wk (12-17 g) were utilized to evaluate the efficiency of kerosene, as solvent-based cleanser, to remove UGEO following dermal exposure. Using a 32P postlabeling technique, the total levels of DNA adducts in skin and lung were significantly increased in kerosene-treated mice. Application of UGEO followed by kerosene washing significantly decreased skin DNA adduct levels but increased lung adduct levels after 8 h. The observed lower DNA adduct skin levels may reflect greater UGEO skin penetration and absorption in the presence of kerosene cleanser.