Abstract 4648: Biomarkers of exposure and effecft short-term vs. chronic environmental exposure to carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
Authors: Sram Radim J. , Beskid Olena , Milcova Alena , Rossner Pavel , Rossnerova Andrea , Schmuczerova Jana , Solansky Ivo , Spatova Milada , Svecova Vlasta , Topinka Jan 
Published: June 2012

Background. Ostrava Region in the Northern Moravia (Silesia) is the most polluted region in the Czech Republic by particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5) and carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (c-PAHs) as benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P). Sources of this pollution are industry (steel production, coke oven), traffic and local heating. In the most polluted district of Ostrava City Bartovice in the year 2009 was PM10 47.6±42.1 μg/m3, B[a]P was 9.2±4.2 ng/ m3.

Objectives. The aim of the study is to gain new knowledge on the mechanisms of the effects of complex mixtures bound on dust particles (c-PAHs) in the ambient air on biomarkers of exposure and effect during the period of inversion in January-February 2010.

Molecular epidemiology study. In the Ostrava City were selected 78 volunteers- working in the office, 31 city policemen from the near town Karvina, 12 city policemen from the near town Havirov, and 28 volunteers from Ostrava-Bartovice. As controls were city policemen from Prague (N=65). All volunteers were nonsmokers. The personal monitoring to c-PAHs was carried on in January-February 2010. The determined concentration of B[a]P was in the Ostrava region vs. Prague 14.8±13.3 vs. 2.80±1.87 ng/ m3. The impact of these concentration to biomarkers as DNA adducts, chromosomal aberrations, 8-oxodG, lipid peroxidation, genetic polymorphisms (metabolic and DNA repair genes) and gene expression profiles are followed. DNA adducts were analysed in lymphocytes by 32P-postlabeling assay, chromosomal aberrations by fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) by whole chromosome painting #1 and #4, and by the determination of micronuclei, oxidative damage as 8-oxodG and 15-F2t-IsoP. Obtained results indicate no differences between the level of biomarkers determined in the Ostrava region and Prague.

But different results were observed in four subjects from Prague, who spent 3 weeks in Ostrava during this inversion (exposed), compared to controls from Prague. Analyzing 6000 cells/subject, the frequency of micronuclei in exposed group increased from 7.96±4.92 to 12.91±6.49 MN/1000 vs. 8.32±1.63 and 8.47±1.55 MN/1000 in controls (p&lt;0.05). Similar tendency was observed using FISH and analysing 5000 cells/subject, genomic frequency of translocations (FG/100) in exposed group increased from 1.44±0.66 to 2.44±1.82 FG/100 vs. 1.51±0.61 and 1.45±0.0.52 FG/100.

Conclusion: We may speculate, that high environmental exposure to B[a]P does not correspond to DNA damage according to dose effect relationship in a population affected by these concentrations for years, probably due to a possible adaptive response.

Acknowledgement: Supported by the Czech Ministry of Environment (SP/1b3/8/08) and the Czech Ministry Education (2B08005).

Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 4648. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-4648