On the Databases of Protein Biomarkers of Human Exposure to Environmental Hazards: A Literature Review

Abstract

Introduction: Both environmental and occupational exposure to hazardous chemicals is a public health challenge since it can induce oxidative stress, lipid peroxidation, and protein modifications. Creation of a database linking work-related risk factors and adverse human health outcomes based on protein biomarkers will contribute to the development of effective preventive and therapeutic approaches. Objective: To conduct a systematic review of literature to identify databases containing information about human protein biomarkers of exposure to environmental risk factors. Materials and methods: We examined Russian and English-language publications containing information about existing protein biomarker databases issued in 2003–2023 and found in Elibary.ru, PubMed, Google Scholar, Scopus, and Research Gate using the following keywords: database, adverse effect, biomarkers, proteins, and occupational environment. Forty of 300 papers initially selected contained systematized data of research aimed at identifying biomarkers of occupational exposures and were therefore chosen for the review. Results: Eight information sources have been found to match our search criteria. We have established that the databases are divided into two types by availability and accessibility of the information of interest. Type I databases contain research findings related to the impact of occupational exposures on the content of biomarkers (proteins) but have limited access. Type II databases are open to access, but they do not contain direct information about protein biomarkers associated with occupational exposures. Conclusion: The existing databases either contain unsystematized data on protein biomarkers of adverse human health effects or are closed to access. Thus, the task of creating such publicly available information sources deems relevant.