Biomonitoring results and cytogenetic markers among harbour workers with potential exposure to river silt aerosols

Abstract

Background: Workers on dredgers and lighters on rivers are potentially exposed to a variety of substances. Aims: To determine the internal load of heavy metals and arsenic as well as levels of cytogenetic markers in workers exposed to river silt aerosols. Methods: One hundred exposed workers were examined up to eight times within three years. Additionally, 100 control workers were studied once. Blood samples were analysed for lead, mercury, and cadmium. Additionally, micronuclei frequency and sister chromatid exchange (SCE) rates were determined. Urinary samples were analysed for cadmium, mercury, nickel, chromium, and arsenic. Information on potential confounders, such as smoking habits and consumption of fish were assessed. Results: Apart from some increased concentrations of mercury in blood (maximum 14.6 mg/l) and arsenic in urine (maximum 356.5 mg/l) all measurements were within reference values. None of the exposure and effect markers were found to be significantly increased in exposed workers compared to non-exposed controls. In multiple linear regression models, mercury levels in blood as well as the concentration of arsenic in urine were strongly related to fish consumption. Cadmium levels in blood as well as urinary cadmium concentrations were strongly related to smoking habits. After adjusting for smoking habits, SCE rates were associated with cadmium levels in blood. Conclusion: Increased exposure levels or enhanced levels of cytogenetic markers were not found in workers exposed to river silt aerosols. However, cadmium exposure in blood was related to SCE frequency.

Cytogenetic status in newborns and their parents in Madrid: The BioMadrid study

“…Mercury levels in our sample were somewhat lower than those reported in other areas of Spain [Ramon et al, 2008], but were much higher than those detected in the USA for children and women at fertile age [Schober et al, 2003], in parturient women and neonate cordblood in Canada [Butler et al, 2006], and in German adults of both sexes [Becker et al, 2002]. An increase in MNBC frequency resulting from exposure to mercury has previously been detected among groups highly exposed to this pollutant including: sailors exposed through consumption of contaminated fish [Wegner et al, 2004] or shellfish [Franchi et al, 1994]; workers from a mercury-producing plant [Queiroz et al, 1999]; cloralkali workers exposed to inorganic mercury [Barregard et al, 1991]; and workers exposed to mercury fulminate [Anwar and Gabal, 1991]. In the present study, blood mercury was not typed and as such, all the results in serum refer to total mercury.…”

Toxicological Assessment of Arsenic-Induced Hematological Alterations and Chromosomal Aberrations in TilapiaOreochromis mossambicus

“…Chromosomal aberrations are usually considered to derive from unrepaired or misrepaired DNA lesions induced by DNA damaging agents. Arsenic has long been regarded as a potential carcinogen (Kitchin 2001;Hertz-Picciotto et al 1992;Leonard and Lauwerys 1980) and both in vivo (Ahmed et al 2011;Martinez et al 2005;Chen et al 2005;Wegner et al 2004) and in vitro (Hughes 2002;Chou et al 2001) studies documented that As exposure causes chromosomal abnormalities, significant DNA damage, and micronucleus formation, which is also revealed in the present experiment while exposing fish, O. mossambicus to As. Huang et al (1995) found that As significantly delays mitotic divisions, inhibits assembly of the mitotic spindle and induction of chromosome end reduplication.…”

Chlorophenol exposure in harbor workers exposed to river silt aerosols

“…Details of the study are given in Wegner et al [2004]. In summary, all 399 seamen with potential exposure to river silt aerosols (mean age AE SD: 46.7 AE 10.9 years, mean duration of employment: 13.6 AE 9.2 years) were invited to take part in the study.…”

“…This cross-sectional study was nested in a prospective cohort study on potential health effects of river silt aerosol exposure on the respective workers on dredgers and lighters in the river Elbe. Details of the study are given in Wegner et al [2004]. In summary, all 399 seamen with potential exposure to river silt aerosols (mean age AE SD: 46.7 AE 10.9 years, mean duration of employment: 13.6 AE 9.2 years) were invited to take part in the study.…”