Biomarkers of exposure, effect, and susceptibility in workers exposed to chloronitrobenzenes

Abstract

Biomonitoring methods were applied to workers exposed to high levels of chloronitrobenzenes. The external dose, internal dose, biologically effective dose, and biological effects were determined. Individual susceptibility was assessed by analyzing genetic polymorphisms of glutathione S-transferases M1, P1 and T1, and N-acetyltransferases 1 and 2. When the markers of exposure and susceptibility were compared with the frequency of chromosomal aberrations, clinical blood and urine parameters, and health effects typical of chloronitrobenzenes exposure, only a few of the comparisons were statistically significant. A statistically significantly higher frequency of chromosomal aberrations was detected in workers with a high level of hemoglobin-adducts.

Keywords:

• Biomonitoring
• chloronitrobenzene
• cytogenetic effects
• hemoglobin adducts
• polymorphism
• urinary metabolites

Acknowledgements

The authors thank the volunteers for participating in the study. The authors would like to thank Prof. Yiu-Ying Liu for the collection of the samples and of the medical data from the Chinese workers.

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of this article.

Funding information

The authors acknowledge the financial support of the European Commission, ERB-IC-CT97-0221.