Combined analysis of chromosomal aberrations and glutathione S-transferase M1 and T1 polymorphisms in pathologists occupationally exposed to formaldehyde

Abstract

The formaldehyde (FA) genotoxic potential in occupationally exposed individuals is conflicting. A relevant indoor-air FA pollution was found in hospitals and scientific institutions where FA is used as a bactericide and tissue preservative. In the present study, we evaluated the frequency of chromosomal aberrations (CAs) in peripheral blood lymphocytes from workers in pathology wards who have been exposed to FA, compared with a group of unexposed subjects. The subjects were also analyzed for the GSTM1 and GSTT1 metabolic gene polymorphisms. The exposed subjects showed a significant increase in the frequency of CA per cell and in the percentage of cells with aberrations compared to control subjects. The different GST genotypes did not affect the level of cytogenetic damage since CA frequencies were not statistically different between the GST "null" genotypes and the GST "positives". The generalized linear models showed that the number of CAs and cells with CAs increased with age, but, independent of age, it was significantly higher in the experimental rather than in the control group. Cubic-spline regression confirmed the linear relationship between CAs and age, but it provided evidence for a non-linear relationship between CAs and the number of years of FA exposure. Similar results were observed when the model included the number of cells with CAs as dependent variables. Our results demonstrate that air FA induces CAs even consequently to low levels of daily exposure, indicating an increased risk of genetic damage for workers exposed to this air pollutant.

Formaldehyde-induced toxicity in the nasal epithelia of workers of a plastic laminate plant

“…These findings demonstrate that air FA induces chromosomal aberrations even consequently to low levels of daily exposure, indicating an increased risk of genetic damage for workers exposed to FA. 59 Additionally, M 1 dG adducts are a form of DNA damage that is quite persistent, with a relatively long half-life of 12.5 days. 60 If unrepaired, M 1 dG adducts may result in base pair substitutions, e.g.…”

Re-evaluation of the WHO (2010) formaldehyde indoor air quality guideline for cancer risk assessment

“…Polymorphisms of the GSTM1 , GSTT1 and GSTP1 genes have been associated with lymphohaematopoietic malignancies or predisposition to these (Dahabreh et al 2010; Bin and Luo 2013; He et al 2014). Comparing FA-induced genotoxicity in the GSTM1 null versus in the GSTM1 non-null and in the GSTT1 null versus in the GSTT1 non-null polymorphisms, respectively, showed no consistent difference between the respective null and non-null genotypes (Costa et al 2008; Jiang et al 2010; Santovito et al 2011; Zeller et al 2012; Costa et al 2015). Furthermore, FA-associated genotoxicity was investigated in the GSTP1 gene, where the isoleucine (Ile) amino acid at position 105 in the wild type (Ile/Ile) was substituted with valine (Val) with the heterozygous (Ile/Val) genotype and the mutant (Val/Val) genotype.…”

Chromosomal damage among medical staff occupationally exposed to volatile anesthetics, antineoplastic drugs, and formaldehyde

“…Several reports investigated the extent of chro- (13), it is still frequently used in histopathology laboratories worldwide as a fixative and tissue preservative. Occupational exposure to formaldehyde was found to increase the frequency of CATot, SCE, and micronuclei in PBL in a number of studies (3,6,(8)(9)(10), probably due to a long-term effect of the low doses that reach blood cells. Despite the fact that formaldehyde exposure was associated with lower frequencies of CATot, CTA, and CSA than exposure to anesthetics and antineoplastic drugs in our population, formaldehyde represents a serious health risk particularly as the frequencies of chromatid and chromosome exchanges were three-fold higher among the formaldehyde-exposed workers than the controls.…”