Bitumen workers handling mastic versus rolled asphalt in a tunnel: assessment of exposure and biomarkers of irritation and genotoxicity

Raulf‐Heimsoth, Monika; Marczyński, Boleslaw; Spickenheuer, Anne; Pesch, Beate; Welge, Peter; Rühl, Reinhold; Bramer, Rainer; Kendzia, Benjamin; Heinze, Evelyn; Angerer, Jürgen; Brüning, Thomas

doi:10.1007/s00204-011-0685-2

Cited by 11 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 14 publications

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“…1) below. (References in Table 1: van Thriel and Marchan, 2012[10]; Raulf-Heimsoth et al, 2011[6]; Breuer et al, 2011[1]; Spickenheuer et al, 2011[9]; Pesch et al, 2011[3]; Raulf-Heimsoth et al, 2011[5]; Marczynski et al, 2011[2]; Welge et al, 2011[11]; Rihs et al, 2011[7]; Raulf-Heimsoth et al, 2011[4])…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

The human bitumen study hits the headlines

Thriel

Marchan

2012

Arch Toxicol

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mentioning

confidence: 99%

The human bitumen study hits the headlines

Thriel

Marchan

2012

Arch Toxicol

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“…The Toraason et al (2001) study of roofing workers did not show an increased leukocyte DNA 8-OHdG/dG ratio and urinary 8-OHdG levels were comparable to those of controls. In the German Human Bitumen Study, increased levels of 8-OHdG nonspecific adducts in peripheral blood WBC did not correlate with strand breaks, bitumen exposure or urinary metabolites and were within the range of levels in non-exposed workers (Marcyznski et al 2006(Marcyznski et al , 2011Raulf-Heimsoth et al 2011a). In other studies, Cavallo et al (2006) reported DNA strand breaks and increased oxidative damage measured by the formamido pyrimidine glycosylase (FPG)-modified comet assay in 7/19 (37%) of bitumen paving workers, some of whom were smokers.…”

Section: Oxidative Damagementioning

confidence: 94%

“…Large cross-sectional, crossshift study. Authors considered increases in genotoxic effect not be attributed to bitumen exposure due to lack of association with exposure levels Raulf-Heimsoth et al (2011a) Mastic asphalt for paving indoor garages. Pavers (320), Control (118) Indicators of lower airway irritation and inflammatory effects in induced sputum samples seen preshift in exposed workers did not increase postshift.…”

Section: Category 4 -Not Assignablementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Concern for high exposure, at higher application temperatures of bitumen in the small population of mastic workers in Germany resulted in the performance of the German Human Bitumen Study evaluating mastic asphalt workers (320 workers, 118 unexposed controls) employed in paving indoor garage spaces from 24 to 180 months. This extensive study produced six DNA adduct and strand break studies (Marcyznski et al 2006(Marcyznski et al , 2010(Marcyznski et al , 2011Raulf-Heimsoth et al 2011a, 2011bKendzia et al 2012), one cytogenetic study and two biomarker studies Lotz et al 2016). DNA strand breaks were higher in bitumen-exposed workers before and after work-shift compared to unexposed controls but strand break levels did not increase significantly during the work week.…”

Section: Category 4 -Not Assignablementioning

confidence: 99%

“…To evaluate differences in response to exposure to vapors and aerosols, Raulf-Heimsoth et al (2011a) examined a small subgroup of 6 workers employed at a tunnel construction site over 2 weeks, one week working with conventional paving asphalt, the second week applying mastic asphalt. Subjects were sampled mid-week.…”

Section: Category 4 -Not Assignablementioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Assessing cancer hazards of bitumen emissions – a case study for complex petroleum substances

Kriech¹,

Schreiner²,

Osborn³

et al. 2017

Critical Reviews in Toxicology

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When assessing cancer hazard and risk associated with a complex petroleum substance, like bitumen emissions, there are often conflicting results related to human, animal and mechanistic studies. Validation of the complex composition to assure that it matches real-world exposures and control of confounders are pivotal factors in study design to allow the necessary read-across during assessments. Several key studies on bitumen emissions in two-year dermal cancer assays reported variable outcomes ranging from high cancer incidence to no cancer incidence. Here, we synthesize findings from published studies to explain the differences and discuss critical factors in cancer hazard evaluation for complex petroleum substances. Using these critical factors, we reviewed relevant human genetic toxicity, mammalian toxicity and mechanistic studies with bitumen to understand the divergence in results. We assess the most reliable and scientifically supported information on the potential carcinogenic hazards of bitumen emissions and comment on quality and completeness of data. Human hazard data are typically considered highest priority because they eliminate the need for interspecies extrapolation and reduce the range of high -to low-dose extrapolation during the risk assessment process. Finally, two well-conducted comprehensive animal studies are discussed that have well-defined test material, exposure concentration and composition representative of worker exposure, evidence of systemic uptake, no confounding exposures and provide consistency across all elements within both studies. Studies that allow effective read-across from human, animal and mechanistic components, control for confounders and are well-validated analytically against workplace exposures, provide the strongest evidence base for evaluating cancer hazard. ARTICLE HISTORY

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Bitumen (Dampf und Aerosol bei der Heißverarbeitung) [MAK value documentation in German language, 2019]

Hartwig

Arand

2019

The MAK‐Collection for Occupational Health and Safety

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The German Commission for the Investigation of Health Hazards of Chemical Compounds in the Work Area has re‐evaluated the classification of bitumen [ 8052‐42‐4 ; 64741‐56‐6 ; 64742‐93‐4 ] in Carcinogen Category 2 considering all toxicological endpoints. New data allowed a separate assessment of the harmful properties of vapours and aerosols from high‐temperature processing of two bitumen groups. Straight‐Run and Air‐Rectified Bitumen For the derivation of a maximum concentration at the workplace (MAK value), a 2‐year inhalation study in rats exposed to vapours and aerosols from a mixture of straight‐run and air‐rectified bitumen is used. Due to an increased incidence of bronchioalveolar hyperplasia in the lungs and of inflammatory cells in the nasal epithelium, the study resulted in a NOAEC of 6 mg/m 3 . Taking into account the extrapolation from an animal study and the increased respiratory volume at the workplace compared with the exposure of the animals at rest, a MAK value of 1.5 mg/m 3 (sum of vapour and inhalable fraction) is derived for straight‐run and air‐rectified bitumen based on bitumen condensate standard. The MAK value is one‐third of the mean concentration at which three out of 12 inflammation markers are elevated in the sputum of exposed workers. However, the clinical relevance of this finding is unclear and the margin to the MAK value is considered sufficient. The effects on the lung is the most sensitive endpoint, so vapours and aerosols of bitumen are assigned to Peak Limitation Category II with an excursion factor of 2. All in all, the investigated straight‐run and air‐rectified bitumens did not exhibit distinct genotoxic or carcinogenic properties. However, due to the wide range in the chemical composition, harmful emissions of carcinogenic and mutagenic substances during high‐temperature processing cannot be completely excluded. Therefore, vapours and aerosols of straight‐run and air‐rectified bitumens, as commonly used in road paving, are regarded as suspicious carcinogens and classified in Carcinogen Category 3 B. As no data are available for developmental toxicity they are assigned to Pregnancy Risk Group D. Skin contact may contribute significantly to systemic toxicity and the “H” notation is confirmed. Sensitization is not expected from the available data. Oxidized Bitumen There are no inhalation studies available for evaluation of the carcinogenicity of oxidized bitumen (“Roofing Bitumen”). The new animal studies published since 2001 and most of the previous studies show the carcinogenicity of condensates of vapours and aerosols of oxidized bitumens in skin painting studies in mice, so that a significant number of tested oxidized bitumens must be considered carcinogenic. The positive animal experiments on the carcinogenicity are consistent with the results of a genotoxicity study in roofing workers with increased DNA strand break rates. Vapours and aerosols of oxidized bitumen are classified in Carcinogen Category 2. A MAK value could not be derived. Mutations in bacteria and higher levels of benzo[a]pyrene in oxidized bitumen condensates compared to those of straight‐run and air‐rectified bitumen and the systemic availability of inhaled vapours and aerosols of oxidized bitumen support suspicion of germ cell mutagenicity. Therefore, vapours and aerosols of oxidized bitumen are classified in Category 3 B for germ cell mutagens. Skin contact may contribute significantly to systemic toxicity and the “H” notation is confirmed. Sensitization is not expected from the available data.

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Bitumen workers handling mastic versus rolled asphalt in a tunnel: assessment of exposure and biomarkers of irritation and genotoxicity

Cited by 11 publications

References 14 publications

The human bitumen study hits the headlines

The human bitumen study hits the headlines

Assessing cancer hazards of bitumen emissions – a case study for complex petroleum substances

Bitumen (Dampf und Aerosol bei der Heißverarbeitung) [MAK value documentation in German language, 2019]

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