Benzene ; toxicity ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis

Adult ; Benzene ; toxicity ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Humans ; Occupational Exposure ; Reference Values ; Sorbic Acid ; analogs & derivatives ; analysis

OBJECTIVETo assess the effect of benzene on sperm DNA.

METHODSTwenty-seven workers exposed to benzene for over two years were included in the experiment group and 35 unexposed ones were chosen as controls. Damage by benzene on sperm DNA was detected by modified single cell gel electrophoresis (SCGE).

RESULTSThe benzene concentration in the air of the workplace of the exposed workers was (86.49 +/- 2.83) mg/m3, twice that of the national maximum allowance (40 mg/cm3). Urinary, trans-muconic acid in the exposed group was (1.40 +/- 0.62) mg/L (n = 27), significantly higher than that of the controls [(0.82) +/- 0.16) mg/L, n = 35]. After SCGE, the percentage of head DNA in the exposed group [(70.18% +/- 7.36%, n = 13 ] was significantly lower than that of the controls (90.62% +/- 2.94%, n = 16), P < 0.001.

CONCLUSIONHigher concentration of benzene could cause damage to the sperm DNA of the workers exposed to it.

Adult ; Air Pollutants, Occupational ; analysis ; Benzene ; analysis ; toxicity ; Comet Assay ; DNA Damage ; drug effects ; Humans ; Male ; Occupational Exposure ; Spermatozoa ; drug effects ; Surveys and Questionnaires

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The current study was designed to determine whether the indoor air pollution in a hemodialysis room (HD) was different from that of other comparable areas in a hospital. METHODS: Five air monitor samplers were hung on the ceiling and placed on the table in both the HD and general ward nursing stations, respectively. In addition, five samplers were placed in the nurse's breathing zone of the HD and the general ward, respectively. Ten air monitor samplers were also placed on the edge of the bed in the HD, which represented the patient's breathing zone. The levels of benzene and toluene were analyzed by GC/MS. RESULTS: In the general ward, the toluene concentration was significantly higher in the nurse breathing zone than that for the ceiling or table samples (p=0.001). The benzene concentration was also significantly higher in the general ward nurse breathing zone than that in the HD (p=0.006). In addition, the benzene concentrations on the table were higher at the general ward as compared to the HD (p=0.028), but there was no significant difference between the ceiling, general ward station and HD. CONCLUSIONS: Both the benzene and toluene concentrations in the HD appear to be more affected by the outdoor atmospheric conditions than by any potential indoor internal sources.
Adult ; Aged ; Air Pollution, Indoor/*analysis ; Benzene/analysis/*toxicity ; *Environmental Monitoring ; Female ; Health Status Indicators ; Humans ; Kidney Failure, Chronic ; Korea ; Male ; Middle Aged ; *Renal Dialysis ; *Safety ; Toluene/analysis/*toxicity ; *Urban Population

OBJECTIVETo study the relationship between glutathione S transferase M1(GST mu) gene deletion and leukemia in workers exposed to benzene.

METHODSA matched population-based case-control survey with multivariate Logistic regression analysis was conducted in this study.

RESULTSIn the population of 34 patients and their matched controls, the absence of the GST mu genotype conferred odds ratio of 3.6. It suggested that GST mu was an important determinant of heterogeneity in individual susceptibility to leukemia associated with exposure to benzene. The single-variance analysis indicated that these markedly significant factors were GST mu gene deletion, GST mu isoenzyme activity, duration of exposure, GST isoenzyme activity, smoking quantity and average concentration of benzene in workshop air. The multivariate analysis indicated that these markedly significant factors were GST mu gene deletion, duration of exposure to benzene and GST mu isoenzyme activity.

CONCLUSIONGST mu gene deletion may be associated with increased risk of leukemia in workers exposed to benzene and is one of genetically determined factors.

Benzene ; toxicity ; Case-Control Studies ; Gene Deletion ; Glutathione Transferase ; genetics ; Humans ; Leukemia ; enzymology ; etiology ; genetics ; Logistic Models ; Multivariate Analysis ; Occupational Exposure ; adverse effects