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Vallée M. How Government Health Agencies Obscure the Impact of Environmental Pollution and Perpetuate Reductionist Framings of Disease: The Case of Leukemia. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH AND HEALTH SERVICES 2024; 54:28-39. [PMID: 37099622 PMCID: PMC10797827 DOI: 10.1177/27551938231169119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2022] [Revised: 02/17/2023] [Accepted: 03/07/2023] [Indexed: 04/27/2023]
Abstract
Since the 1970s, environmental health researchers have documented environmental pollution's impacts on human health, which includes the bioaccumulation of industrial chemicals and how these toxicants contribute to disease. However, the relationship between disease and pollution is often difficult to discern in the disease information provided by dominant institutions. Previous scholarship has identified that print media, television news, online medical publishers, and medical associations consistently obscure the environmental causation frame. However, less has been said about disease information provided by public health agencies. To address this gap, I analyzed the leukemia information provided by Cancer Australia, the United States' National Institutes of Health, and the United Kingdom's National Health Service. My analysis shows that the disease information offered by these health agencies also obscures the environmental causation frame by failing to identify most toxicants that environmental health researchers have linked to leukemia and by emphasizing a biomedical framing of the medical condition. Beyond documenting the problem, this article also discusses the social consequences and sources of the problem.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuel Vallée
- Senior Lecturer, Department of Sociology and Criminology, The University of Auckland, 58 Symonds Street, Auckland 1010, New Zealand
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2
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Yu L, Qiu W, Gao Y, Sun M, Chen L, Cui Z, Zhu D, Guo P, Tang H, Luo H. JNK1 activated pRb/E2F1 and inhibited p53/p21 signaling pathway is involved in hydroquinone-induced pathway malignant transformation of TK6 cells by accelerating the cell cycle progression. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY 2023; 38:2344-2351. [PMID: 37347496 DOI: 10.1002/tox.23870] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2023] [Accepted: 06/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/23/2023]
Abstract
Hydroquinone (HQ) is an important metabolites of benzene in the body, and it has been found to result in cellular DNA damage, mutation, cell cycle imbalance, and malignant transformation. The JNK1 signaling pathway plays an important role in DNA damage repair. In this study, we focused on whether the JNK1 signaling pathway is involved in the HQ-induced cell cycle abnormalities and the underlying mechanism. The results showed that HQ induced abnormal progression of the cell cycle and initiated the JNK1 signaling pathway. We further confirmed that JNK1 suppression decelerated the cell cycle progression through inhibiting pRb/E2F1 signaling pathway and triggering p53/p21 pathway. Therefore, we concluded that JNK1 might be involved in HQ-induced malignant transformation associated with activating pRb/E2F1 and inhibiting p53/p21 signaling pathway which resulting in accelerating the cell cycle progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lingxue Yu
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Dongguan Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine, School of Public Health, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan, China
| | - Weifeng Qiu
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Dongguan Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine, School of Public Health, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan, China
| | - Yuting Gao
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Dongguan Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine, School of Public Health, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan, China
| | - Mingwei Sun
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Dongguan Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine, School of Public Health, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan, China
- Faculty of Medicine, Macau University of Science and Technology, Macao, China
| | - Lin Chen
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Dongguan Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine, School of Public Health, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan, China
| | - Zheming Cui
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Dongguan Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine, School of Public Health, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan, China
| | - Delong Zhu
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Dongguan Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine, School of Public Health, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan, China
| | - Pu Guo
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Dongguan Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine, School of Public Health, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan, China
| | - Huanwen Tang
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Dongguan Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine, School of Public Health, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan, China
- The First Dongguan Affiliated Hospital, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan, China
| | - Hao Luo
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Dongguan Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine, School of Public Health, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan, China
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3
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Broccia G, Carter J, Ozsin-Ozler C, De Matteis S, Cocco P. Epidemiology of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia in Sardinia, Italy (1974-2003). Exp Hematol 2023; 125-126:37-44. [PMID: 37567460 DOI: 10.1016/j.exphem.2023.08.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2023] [Revised: 08/06/2023] [Accepted: 08/07/2023] [Indexed: 08/13/2023]
Abstract
Several reports have described a worldwide increasing incidence of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) dating back seven to eight decades. Although genetic susceptibility would be an implausible explanation, the determinants of this upward trend and its spatial coordinates are poorly understood. We explored CLL incidence in Sardinia, Italy, using a validated database including the 1700 CLL cases diagnosed during 1974-2003. We applied Bayesian methods to map the CLL probability by administrative unit and Poisson regression analysis to investigate socioeconomic and environmental determinants adjusting by possible confounders. The standardized (Standard European population) incidence rate for the Sardinian population over the study period was 5.1 per 100,000 (95% confidence interval [CI] 4.9-5.3), increased annually by 5.8% (95% CI 5.7-6.0) consistently by sex and age, and was more noticeable in urban areas. Five administrative units exceeded the 95% posterior probability of an elevated CLL incidence: these were rural areas spread over the regional territory, not suggestive of spatial clustering. The Poisson regression analysis showed that the risk was elevated in urban areas (RR = 1.11, 95% CI 1.05-1.17), among residents ≥ 30 km from the nearest hospital (RR = 1.09, 95% CI 1.06-1.12), and with the local prevalence of cork harvesting (RR = 1.62, 95% CI 1.12-2.34). Our results suggest that better access to health care facilities and improvements in diagnostic efficacy might have generated the observed upward trend in CLL incidence, along with contributing environmental factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giorgio Broccia
- Department of Haematology and Bone Marrow Transplants, Hospital A. Businco, Cagliari, Sardinia, Italy
| | | | - Cansu Ozsin-Ozler
- Department of Paediatric Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Sara De Matteis
- Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, University of Cagliari, Monserrato, Italy
| | - Pierluigi Cocco
- Centre for Occupational and Environmental Health, Division of Public Health, Health Services Research & Primary Care, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.
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Cordiano R, Papa V, Cicero N, Spatari G, Allegra A, Gangemi S. Effects of Benzene: Hematological and Hypersensitivity Manifestations in Resident Living in Oil Refinery Areas. TOXICS 2022; 10:678. [PMID: 36355969 PMCID: PMC9697938 DOI: 10.3390/toxics10110678] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2022] [Revised: 10/30/2022] [Accepted: 10/31/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Literature is teeming with publications on industrial pollution. Over the decades, the main industrial pollutants and their effects on human health have been widely framed. Among the various compounds involved, benzene plays a leading role in the onset of specific diseases. Two systems are mainly affected by the adverse health effects of benzene exposure, both acute and chronic: the respiratory and hematopoietic systems. The most suitable population targets for a proper damage assessment on these systems are oil refinery workers and residents near refining plants. Our work fits into this area of interest with the aim of reviewing the most relevant cases published in the literature related to the impairment of the aforementioned systems following benzene exposure. We perform an initial debate between the two clinical branches that see a high epidemiological expression in this slice of the population examined: residents near petroleum refinery areas worldwide. In addition, the discussion expands on highlighting the main immunological implications of benzene exposure, finding a common pathophysiological denominator in inflammation, oxidative stress, and DNA damage, thus helping to set the basis for an increasingly detailed characterization aimed at identifying common molecular patterns between the two clinical fields discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raffaele Cordiano
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, School and Operative Unit of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, University of Messina, 98125 Messina, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Papa
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, School and Operative Unit of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, University of Messina, 98125 Messina, Italy
| | - Nicola Cicero
- Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morphofunctional Imaging, University of Messina, 98168 Messina, Italy
| | - Giovanna Spatari
- Department of Biomedical and Dental Sciences and Morphofunctional Imaging, University of Messina, 98168 Messina, Italy
| | - Alessandro Allegra
- Division of Hematology, Department of Human Pathology in Adulthood and Childhood “Gaetano Barresi”, University of Messina, 98125 Messina, Italy
| | - Sebastiano Gangemi
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, School and Operative Unit of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, University of Messina, 98125 Messina, Italy
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5
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Guo X, Zhang L, Wang J, Zhang W, Ren J, Chen Y, Zhang Y, Gao A. Plasma metabolomics study reveals the critical metabolic signatures for benzene-induced hematotoxicity. JCI Insight 2022; 7:154999. [PMID: 35076025 PMCID: PMC8855792 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.154999] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2021] [Accepted: 11/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoli Guo
- Department of Occupational Health and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, and
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Lei Zhang
- Department of Occupational Health and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, and
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Jingyu Wang
- Department of Occupational Health and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, and
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Wei Zhang
- Department of Occupational Health and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, and
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Jing Ren
- Department of Occupational Health and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, and
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Yujiao Chen
- Department of Occupational Health and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, and
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Yanlin Zhang
- Research Center of Occupational Medicine, Peking University Third Hospital, Haidian District, Beijing, China
| | - Ai Gao
- Department of Occupational Health and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, and
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
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6
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McLoone P, Dyussupov O, Nurtlessov Z, Kenessariyev U, Kenessary D. The effect of exposure to crude oil on the immune system. Health implications for people living near oil exploration activities. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH RESEARCH 2021; 31:762-787. [PMID: 31709802 DOI: 10.1080/09603123.2019.1689232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2019] [Accepted: 11/01/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
People who reside near oil exploration activities may be exposed to toxins from gas flares or oil spills. The impact of such exposures on the human immune system has not been fully investigated. In this review, research investigating the effects of crude oil on the immune system is evaluated. The aim was to obtain a greater understanding of the possible immunological impact of living near oil exploration activities. In animals, the effect of exposure to crude oil on the immune system depends on the species, dose, exposure route, and type of oil. Important observations included; hematological changes resulting in anemia and alterations in white blood cell numbers, lymph node and splenic atrophy, genotoxicity in immune cells, modulation of cytokine gene expression and increased susceptibility to infectious diseases. In humans, there are reports that exposure to crude oil can increase the risk of developing certain types of cancer and cause immunomodulation.Abbreviations: A1AT: alpha-1 antitrypsin; ACH50: hemolytic activity of the alternative pathway; AHR: aryl hydrocarbon receptor; BALF: bronchoalveolar lavage fluid; COPD: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; CYP: cytochrome P450; DNFB: 2, 4-dinitro-1-fluorobenzene; G-CSF: granulocyte-colony stimulating factor; IFN: interferon; IL: interleukin; 8-IP: 8-isoprostane; ISG15: interferon stimulated gene; LPO: lipid peroxidation; LTB4: leukotriene B4; M-CSF: macrophage-colony stimulating factor; MMC: melanomacrophage center; MPV: mean platelet volume; NK: natural killer; OSPM: oil sail particulate matter; PAH: polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon; PBMC: peripheral blood mononuclear cell; PCV: packed cell volume; RBC: red blood cell; ROS: reactive oxygen species; RR: relative risk; TH: T helper; TNF: tumour necrosis factor; UV: ultraviolet; VNNV: Viral Nervous Necrosis Virus; WBC: white blood cell.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pauline McLoone
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Nazarbayev University School of Medicine, Astana, Kazakhstan
| | - Olzhas Dyussupov
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Nazarbayev University School of Medicine, Astana, Kazakhstan
| | - Zhaxybek Nurtlessov
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Nazarbayev University School of Medicine, Astana, Kazakhstan
| | - Ussen Kenessariyev
- Department of General Hygiene and Ecology, Kazakh National Medical University, Almaty, Kazakhstan
| | - Dinara Kenessary
- Department of General Hygiene and Ecology, Kazakh National Medical University, Almaty, Kazakhstan
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7
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Morales LF, Miyara SJ, Guevara S, Metz CN, Shoaib M, Watt S, Zafeiropoulos S, McCann-Molmenti A, Hayashida K, Takegawa R, Shinozaki K, Choudhary RC, Brindley EC, Nishikimi M, Kressel AM, Alsalmay YM, Mazzotta EA, Cho YM, Aranalde GI, Grande DA, Zanos S, Becker LB, Molmenti EP. Sequential Use of Romiplostim after Eltrombopag for Refractory Thrombocytopenia in Hydrocarbon-Induced Myelodysplasia. Int J Angiol 2021. [DOI: 10.1055/s-0041-1726366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022] Open
Abstract
AbstractWe describe the clinical course of a 65-year-old male patient who suffered from hydrocarbon-induced myelodysplasia and was successfully treated with the thrombopoietin receptor agonist (TPO-RA), romiplostim. Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) are characterized by ineffective hematopoiesis, cytopenias, and increased risk of leukemic transformation. Here, we present a clinical vignette of MDS-associated thrombocytopenia refractory to first-line drugs as well as the TPO-RA, eltrombopag. To date, romiplostim is an U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved drug for idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura and thrombocytopenia secondary to liver disease. Of note, currently the FDA advises against its use in MDS based on previous long-term safety concerns. Since the therapeutic options for thrombocytopenia in MDS patients are sparse, repurposing and reassessing romiplostim in this setting have been the focus of recent studies. At the time of writing, no published double-blind randomized clinical trials have conducted a head-to-head comparison between romiplostim and eltrombopag in thrombocytopenic MDS patients. To the best of our knowledge, for a thrombocytopenic patient in the setting of MDS, this is the first documented report of refractory clinical response after a 2-year use of eltrombopag in which replacement of treatment with romiplostim resulted in sustained physiological counts of thrombocytes within four weeks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luis F. Morales
- Department of Surgery, North Shore University Hospital, Manhasset, New York
| | - Santiago J. Miyara
- Elmezzi Graduate School of Molecular Medicine, Manhasset, New York
- Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Manhasset, New York
| | - Sara Guevara
- Department of Surgery, North Shore University Hospital, Manhasset, New York
| | - Christine N. Metz
- Elmezzi Graduate School of Molecular Medicine, Manhasset, New York
- Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Manhasset, New York
| | - Muhammad Shoaib
- Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Manhasset, New York
- Department of Emergency Medicine, North Shore University Hospital, Manhasset, New York
- Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Hempstead, New York
| | - Stacey Watt
- Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Buffalo, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York
| | - Stefanos Zafeiropoulos
- Elmezzi Graduate School of Molecular Medicine, Manhasset, New York
- Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Manhasset, New York
| | | | - Kei Hayashida
- Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Manhasset, New York
- Department of Emergency Medicine, North Shore University Hospital, Manhasset, New York
| | - Ryosuke Takegawa
- Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Manhasset, New York
- Department of Emergency Medicine, North Shore University Hospital, Manhasset, New York
| | - Koichiro Shinozaki
- Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Manhasset, New York
- Department of Emergency Medicine, North Shore University Hospital, Manhasset, New York
| | - Rishabh C. Choudhary
- Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Manhasset, New York
- Department of Emergency Medicine, North Shore University Hospital, Manhasset, New York
| | - Elena C. Brindley
- Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Manhasset, New York
- Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Hempstead, New York
| | - Mitsuaki Nishikimi
- Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Manhasset, New York
- Department of Emergency Medicine, North Shore University Hospital, Manhasset, New York
| | - Adam M. Kressel
- Department of Surgery, North Shore University Hospital, Manhasset, New York
- Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Manhasset, New York
| | - Yaser M. Alsalmay
- Department of Surgery, North Shore University Hospital, Manhasset, New York
| | - Elvio A. Mazzotta
- Department of Anesthesiology, The Wexner Medical Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Young Min Cho
- Department of Surgery, North Shore University Hospital, Manhasset, New York
- Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Manhasset, New York
| | | | - Daniel A. Grande
- Elmezzi Graduate School of Molecular Medicine, Manhasset, New York
- Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Manhasset, New York
- Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Hempstead, New York
| | - Stavros Zanos
- Elmezzi Graduate School of Molecular Medicine, Manhasset, New York
- Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Manhasset, New York
| | - Lance B. Becker
- Department of Surgery, North Shore University Hospital, Manhasset, New York
- Elmezzi Graduate School of Molecular Medicine, Manhasset, New York
- Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Manhasset, New York
- Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Hempstead, New York
| | - Ernesto P. Molmenti
- Department of Surgery, North Shore University Hospital, Manhasset, New York
- Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Manhasset, New York
- Department of Emergency Medicine, North Shore University Hospital, Manhasset, New York
- Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Hempstead, New York
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Onyije FM, Hosseini B, Togawa K, Schüz J, Olsson A. Cancer Incidence and Mortality among Petroleum Industry Workers and Residents Living in Oil Producing Communities: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:4343. [PMID: 33923944 PMCID: PMC8073871 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18084343] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2021] [Revised: 04/14/2021] [Accepted: 04/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Petroleum extraction and refining are major sources of various occupational exposures and of air pollution and may therefore contribute to the global cancer burden. This systematic review and meta-analysis is aimed at evaluating the cancer risk in petroleum-exposed workers and in residents living near petroleum facilities. Relevant studies were identified and retrieved through PubMed and Web of Science databases. Summary effect size (ES) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were analysed using random effect models, and heterogeneity across studies was assessed (I2). Overall, petroleum industry work was associated with an increased risk of mesothelioma (ES = 2.09, CI: 1.58-2.76), skin melanoma (ES = 1.34, CI: 1.06-1.70 multiple myeloma (ES =1.81, CI: 1.28-2.55), and cancers of the prostate (ES = 1.13, Cl: 1.05-1.22) and urinary bladder (ES = 1.25, CI: 1.09-1.43) and a decreased risk of cancers of the esophagus, stomach, colon, rectum, and pancreas. Offshore petroleum work was associated with an increased risk of lung cancer (ES = 1.20; 95% CI: 1.03-1.39) and leukemia (ES = 1.47; 95% CI: 1.12-1.92) in stratified analysis. Residential proximity to petroleum facilities was associated with childhood leukemia (ES = 1.90, CI: 1.34-2.70). Very few studies examined specific exposures among petroleum industry workers or residents living in oil producing communities. The present review warrants further studies on specific exposure levels and pathways among petroleum-exposed workers and residents living near petroleum facilities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felix M. Onyije
- Environment and Lifestyle Epidemiology Branch, International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC/WHO), 150 Cours Albert Thomas, CEDEX 08, 69372 Lyon, France; (B.H.); (K.T.); (J.S.); (A.O.)
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9
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Cox LA, Ketelslegers HB, Lewis RJ. The shape of low-concentration dose-response functions for benzene: implications for human health risk assessment. Crit Rev Toxicol 2021; 51:95-116. [PMID: 33853483 DOI: 10.1080/10408444.2020.1860903] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Are dose-response relationships for benzene and health effects such as myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML) supra-linear, with disproportionately high risks at low concentrations, e.g. below 1 ppm? To investigate this hypothesis, we apply recent mode of action (MoA) and mechanistic information and modern data science techniques to quantify air benzene-urinary metabolite relationships in a previously studied data set for Tianjin, China factory workers. We find that physiologically based pharmacokinetics (PBPK) models and data for Tianjin workers show approximately linear production of benzene metabolites for air benzene (AB) concentrations below about 15 ppm, with modest sublinearity at low concentrations (e.g. below 5 ppm). Analysis of the Tianjin worker data using partial dependence plots reveals that production of metabolites increases disproportionately with increases in air benzene (AB) concentrations above 10 ppm, exhibiting steep sublinearity (J shape) before becoming saturated. As a consequence, estimated cumulative exposure is not an adequate basis for predicting risk. Risk assessments must consider the variability of exposure concentrations around estimated exposure concentrations to avoid over-estimating risks at low concentrations. The same average concentration for a specified duration is disproportionately risky if it has higher variance. Conversely, if chronic inflammation via activation of inflammasomes is a critical event for induction of MDS and other health effects, then sufficiently low concentrations of benzene are predicted not to cause increased risks of inflammasome-mediated diseases, no matter how long the duration of exposure. Thus, we find no evidence that the dose-response relationship is supra-linear at low doses; instead sublinear or zero excess risk at low concentrations is more consistent with the data. A combination of physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) modeling, Bayesian network (BN) analysis and inference, and partial dependence plots appears a promising and practical approach for applying current data science methods to advance benzene risk assessment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louis A Cox
- Cox Associates LLC, Denver, CO, USA.,Department of Business Analytics, University of Colorado, Denver, CO, USA
| | - Hans B Ketelslegers
- Concawe Division, European Petroleum Refiners Association, Brussels, Belgium
| | - R Jeffrey Lewis
- Concawe Division, European Petroleum Refiners Association, Brussels, Belgium.,ExxonMobil Biomedical Sciences, Inc, Clinton, NJ, USA
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10
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Mundt KA, Dell LD, Boffetta P, Beckett EM, Lynch HN, Desai VJ, Lin CK, Thompson WJ. The importance of evaluating specific myeloid malignancies in epidemiological studies of environmental carcinogens. BMC Cancer 2021; 21:227. [PMID: 33676443 PMCID: PMC7936449 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-021-07908-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2020] [Accepted: 02/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Although myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), acute myeloid leukemia (AML), myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN) - including chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) - and myelodysplastic/myeloproliferative neoplasms (MDS/MPN) are largely clinically distinct myeloid malignancies, epidemiological studies rarely examine them separately and often combine them with lymphoid malignancies, limiting possible etiological interpretations for specific myeloid malignancies. METHODS We systematically evaluated the epidemiological literature on the four chemical agents (1,3-butadiene, formaldehyde, benzene, and tobacco smoking, excluding pharmaceutical, microbial and radioactive agents, and pesticides) classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer as having sufficient epidemiological evidence to conclude that each causes "myeloid malignancies." Literature searches of IARC Monographs and PubMed identified 85 studies that we critically assessed, and for appropriate subsets, summarized results using meta-analysis. RESULTS Only two epidemiological studies on 1,3-butadiene were identified, but reported findings were inadequate to evaluate specific myeloid malignancies. Studies on formaldehyde reported results for AML and CML - and not for MDS or MPN - but reported no increased risks. For benzene, several specific myeloid malignancies were evaluated, with consistent associations reported with AML and MDS and mixed results for CML. Studies of tobacco smoking examined all major myeloid malignancies, demonstrating consistent relationships with AML, MDS and MPN, but not with CML. CONCLUSIONS Surprisingly few epidemiological studies present results for specific myeloid malignancies, and those identified were inconsistent across studies of the same exposure, as well as across chemical agents. This exercise illustrates that even for agents classified as having sufficient evidence of causing "myeloid malignancies," the epidemiological evidence for specific myeloid malignancies is generally limited and inconsistent. Future epidemiological studies should report findings for the specific myeloid malignancies, as combining them post hoc - where appropriate - always remains possible, whereas disaggregation may not. Furthermore, combining results across possibly discrete diseases reduces the chances of identifying important malignancy-specific causal associations.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - L D Dell
- Ramboll US Consulting Inc., Amherst, MA, USA
| | - P Boffetta
- Stony Brook Cancer Center, Stony Brook, NY, USA
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | | | | | - V J Desai
- Mount Sinai Hospital, New York, NY, USA
| | - C K Lin
- Cardno ChemRisk, Boston, MA, USA
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11
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Qafisheh N, Mohamed OH, Elhassan A, Ibrahim A, Hamdan M. Effects of the occupational exposure on health status among petroleum station workers, Khartoum State, Sudan. Toxicol Rep 2021; 8:171-176. [PMID: 33489776 PMCID: PMC7808934 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxrep.2020.12.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2020] [Revised: 12/19/2020] [Accepted: 12/28/2020] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Mean blood lead level for exposed group of non-smokers was 0.58 mg/l. Mean blood lead level for exposed group of smokers was 1.49 mg/l. Mean value of lead in urine of smokers were 1.59 mg/L & 1.16 mg/L in both groups.
Objective The hazards of petroleum station activities are greatly emphasized due to their negative impact on workers’ health and safety concerns. This study aims to assess the effect of occupational exposure among the workers in various petroleum station at the Khartoum State, Sudan. Methods An analytical and experimental study design is followed where 60 participants were selected through purposive sampling technique. The participants were recruited from the petroleum workstation and were considered as the lead exposed group whereas the participants who lived faraway from the petroleum station and had no exposure to lead were considered as un-exposed group. To avoid the effects of smoking on lead concentration we further divided these groups into smokers and non-smokers. IBM, SPSS was used for the statistical analysis of the collected data. Results The results show that there is no significant difference in white blood cells (WBCs) count between exposed and unexposed lead group. We also did not find significant difference in Red blood cells (RBCs) count. Participant from both groups had normal range of haemoglobin (Hb). However, haematocrit (Hct) levels were elevated in both of these groups. We also tested the platelet count in these groups and found that platelet count was slightly lower in lead exposed group as compared to the unexposed group but average count was found within the normal range. Finally, the lead concentration in serum and urine was detected of the participants. Results reveal that the serum lead concentration of non-smokers (0.58 mg/l) in the exposed group was higher than in non-smokers of unexposed group (0.49 mg/l). The lead concentration in serum of smokers in exposed group was also high (1.49 mg/l) than the lead concentration detected in serum of smokers in unexposed group (1.14 mg/l). Urine lead levels of exposed group was also high than the unexposed group in smokers and non-smokers. Mean value of lead in urine among non-smokers of the exposed and unexposed group were 0.76 mg/L and 0.19 mg/L respectively. In the case of smokers, 1.59 mg/L and 1.16 mg/L were the mean value of lead in urine for both exposed and unexposed groups respectively. Conclusion From the given results it can be concluded that health safety measures for workers must be implemented to maintain good health status of workers at petroleum stations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nida Qafisheh
- Department of Environmental Health & Safety, Abu Dhabi University, United Arab Emirates
| | | | | | - Abdalla Ibrahim
- Department of Environmental Health, University of Gezira, Sudan
| | - Mariam Hamdan
- Department of Environmental Health, University of Gezira, Sudan
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12
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Key event-informed risk models for benzene-induced acute myeloid leukaemia. Toxicol Lett 2021; 340:141-152. [PMID: 33429013 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxlet.2021.01.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2020] [Revised: 12/10/2020] [Accepted: 01/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Occupational exposure to benzene at levels of 10 ppm or more has been associated with increased risk of acute myeloid leukaemia (AML). The mode of action (MOA) for AML development leading to mortality is anticipated to include multiple earlier key events, which can be observed in hematotoxicity and genetic toxicity in peripheral blood of exposed workers. Prevention of these early events would lead to prevention of the apical, adverse outcomes, the morbidity and mortality caused by the myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) and AML. Incorporation of key event information should modify the risk model, but few modification approaches have been suggested. To that end, two approaches to risk model modification are described that use sub-linear and segmented linear increases in risk below key events, while maintaining a linear increase in AML mortality risk beginning at 2 ppm, the lowest observed adverse effect concentration (LOAEC) identified for hemato- and geno- toxicity in high quality studies of human occupational exposure. Below 2 ppm two different modification approaches to quantitative risk models were applied: a continuously decreasing slope model and a segmented modification in slope. These two approaches provide greater flexibility to incorporate MOA information in risk model development and selection.
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13
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Boonhat H, Lin RT. Association between leukemia incidence and mortality and residential petrochemical exposure: A systematic review and meta-analysis. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2020; 145:106090. [PMID: 32932064 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2020.106090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2020] [Revised: 08/12/2020] [Accepted: 08/22/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The global burden of leukemia, which grew by 19% from 2007 to 2017, poses a threat to human development and global cancer control. Factors contributing to this growth include massive industrial pollution, especially from large-scale petrochemical industry complexes (PICs). Globally, around 700 PICs are continuously operating. Data on the impact of PICs on leukemia incidence and mortality in residents are sparse and inconsistent. OBJECTIVE To determine the association between residential exposure to PICs and leukemia incidence and mortality using systematic review and meta-analysis. METHODS The studies were identified through seven databases (Clinical Key, Cochrane Library, EBSCOhost, Embase, PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Web of Science). We screened the eligibility of studies using following criteria: (1) observational studies that focused on residential exposure to PICs; (2) exposure group that was defined as residents living close to PICs; (3) outcome that was defined as all leukemia incidence and mortality; and (4) available population data. We applied the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation to assess the certainty of evidence. The random-effects model used to estimate the pooled effects in the meta-analysis. RESULTS We identified thirteen epidemiologic studies (including eleven for leukemia incidence, one for leukemia mortality, and one for both), covering 125,580 individuals from Croatia, Finland, Italy, Serbia, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan, the United Kingdom, and the United States. We found moderate certainty of evidence indicated the risk of leukemia incidence (relative risk [RR] = 1.18; 95% CI = 1.03-1.35) and mortality (RR = 1.26; 95% CI = 1.10-1.45) in residents living close to PICs. Our subgroup analysis found increased RRs for leukemia incidence in studies using distance-based exposure indicator (RR = 1.11; 95% CI = 1.00-1.23), and with longer follow-up periods (RR = 1.24; 95% CI = 1.06-1.45). CONCLUSION Our analysis provides low-certainty evidence of increased leukemia incidence and moderate-certainty evidence of increased leukemia mortality among residents living close to PICs. While the global petrochemicals sector is growing, our findings suggest the need to consider disease prevention and pollution control measures during the development of PICs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hathaichon Boonhat
- Graduate Institute of Public Health, College of Public Health, China Medical University, Taichung 406, Taiwan
| | - Ro-Ting Lin
- Department of Occupational Safety and Health, College of Public Health, China Medical University, Taichung 406, Taiwan.
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Shallis RM, Weiss JJ, Deziel NC, Gore SD. Challenging the concept of de novo acute myeloid leukemia: Environmental and occupational leukemogens hiding in our midst. Blood Rev 2020; 47:100760. [PMID: 32988660 DOI: 10.1016/j.blre.2020.100760] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2020] [Revised: 07/28/2020] [Accepted: 08/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Myeloid neoplasms like acute myeloid leukemia (AML) originate from genomic disruption, usually in a multi-step fashion. Hematopoietic stem/progenitor cell acquisition of abnormalities in vital cellular processes, when coupled with intrinsic factors such as germline predisposition or extrinsic factors such as the marrow microenvironment or environmental agents, can lead to requisite pre-leukemic clonal selection, expansion and evolution. Several of these entities have been invoked as "leukemogens." The known leukemogens are numerous and are found in the therapeutic, occupational and ambient environments, however they are often difficult to implicate for individual patients. Patients treated with particular chemotherapeutic agents or radiotherapy accept a calculated risk of therapy-related AML. Occupational exposures to benzene, dioxins, formaldehyde, electromagnetic and particle radiation have been associated with an increased risk of AML. Although regulatory agencies have established acceptable exposure limits in the workplace, accidental exposures and even ambient exposures to leukemogens are possible. It is plausible that inescapable exposure to non-anthropogenic ambient leukemogens may be responsible for many cases of non-inherited de novo AML. In this review, we discuss the current understanding of leukemogens as they relate to AML, assess to what extent the term "de novo" leukemia is meaningful, and describe the potential to identify and characterize new leukemogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rory M Shallis
- Section of Hematology, Department of Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, USA.
| | - Julian J Weiss
- Section of Hematology, Department of Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, USA
| | - Nicole C Deziel
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Steven D Gore
- Section of Hematology, Department of Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, USA
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15
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Rosting C, Olsen R. Biomonitoring of the benzene metabolite s-phenylmercapturic acid and the toluene metabolite s-benzylmercapturic acid in urine from firefighters. Toxicol Lett 2020; 329:20-25. [DOI: 10.1016/j.toxlet.2020.04.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2019] [Revised: 04/13/2020] [Accepted: 04/23/2020] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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16
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A clandestine culprit with critical consequences: Benzene and acute myeloid leukemia. Blood Rev 2020; 47:100736. [PMID: 32771228 DOI: 10.1016/j.blre.2020.100736] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2020] [Revised: 06/17/2020] [Accepted: 07/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
While most clinicians recognize adult therapy-related leukemias following cytotoxic chemotherapy and radiation, environmental regulatory agencies evaluate exposure to "safe levels" of leukemogenic compounds. Benzene represents the most notorious leukemogenic chemical. Used in the production of ubiquitous items such as plastics, lubricants, rubbers, dyes, and pesticides, benzene may be responsible for the higher risk of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) among automobile, janitorial, construction, and agricultural workers. It is possible that ambient benzene may contribute to many cases of "de novo" AML not arising out of germline predispositions. In this appraisal of the available literature, we evaluate and discuss the association between chronic, low-dose and ambient exposure to environmental benzene and the development of adult AML.
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Jephcote C, Brown D, Verbeek T, Mah A. A systematic review and meta-analysis of haematological malignancies in residents living near petrochemical facilities. Environ Health 2020; 19:53. [PMID: 32430062 PMCID: PMC7236944 DOI: 10.1186/s12940-020-00582-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2019] [Accepted: 02/20/2020] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The petrochemical industry is a major source of hazardous and toxic air pollutants that are recognised to have mutagenic and carcinogenic properties. A wealth of occupational epidemiology literature exists around the petrochemical industry, with adverse haematological effects identified in employees exposed to 'low' concentrations of aromatic hydrocarbons (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene). Releases from the petrochemical industry are also thought to increase the risk of cancer incidence in fenceline communities. However, this emerging and at times inconclusive evidence base remains fragmented. The present study's aim was to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of epidemiological studies investigating the association between incidences of haematological malignancy and residential exposure to the petrochemical industry. METHODS Epidemiological studies reporting the risk of haematological malignancies (Leukaemia, Hodgkin's lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, and Multiple myeloma) were included where the following criteria were met: (i) Cancer incidence is diagnosed by a medical professional and coded in accordance to the International Classification of Diseases; (ii) A clear definition of fenceline communities is provided, indicating the proximity between exposed residents and petrochemical activities; and (iii) Exposure is representative of normal operating conditions, not emergency events. Two investigators independently extracted information on study characteristics and outcomes in accordance with PRISMA and MOOSE guidelines. Relative risks and their 95% confidence intervals were pooled across studies for the four categories of haematological malignancy, using a random effects meta-analysis. RESULTS The systematic review identified 16 unique studies, which collectively record the incidence of haematological malignancies across 187,585 residents living close to a petrochemical operation. Residents from fenceline communities, less than 5 km from a petrochemical facility (refinery or manufacturer of commercial chemicals), had a 30% higher risk of developing Leukaemia than residents from communities with no petrochemical activity. Meanwhile, the association between exposure and rarer forms of haematological malignancy remains uncertain, with further research required. CONCLUSIONS The risk of developing Leukaemia appears higher in individuals living near a petrochemical facility. This highlights the need for further policy to regulate the release of carcinogens by industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Calvin Jephcote
- Department of Sociology, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL UK
- Centre for Environmental Health and Sustainability, University of Leicester, Leicester, LE1 7HA UK
| | - David Brown
- Department of Sociology, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL UK
| | - Thomas Verbeek
- Department of Sociology, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL UK
| | - Alice Mah
- Department of Sociology, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL UK
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18
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Checkoway H, Lees PSJ, Dell LD, Gentry PR, Mundt KA. Peak Exposures in Epidemiologic Studies and Cancer Risks: Considerations for Regulatory Risk Assessment. RISK ANALYSIS : AN OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE SOCIETY FOR RISK ANALYSIS 2019; 39:1441-1464. [PMID: 30925210 PMCID: PMC6850123 DOI: 10.1111/risa.13294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2018] [Revised: 12/22/2018] [Accepted: 12/24/2018] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
We review approaches for characterizing "peak" exposures in epidemiologic studies and methods for incorporating peak exposure metrics in dose-response assessments that contribute to risk assessment. The focus was on potential etiologic relations between environmental chemical exposures and cancer risks. We searched the epidemiologic literature on environmental chemicals classified as carcinogens in which cancer risks were described in relation to "peak" exposures. These articles were evaluated to identify some of the challenges associated with defining and describing cancer risks in relation to peak exposures. We found that definitions of peak exposure varied considerably across studies. Of nine chemical agents included in our review of peak exposure, six had epidemiologic data used by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) in dose-response assessments to derive inhalation unit risk values. These were benzene, formaldehyde, styrene, trichloroethylene, acrylonitrile, and ethylene oxide. All derived unit risks relied on cumulative exposure for dose-response estimation and none, to our knowledge, considered peak exposure metrics. This is not surprising, given the historical linear no-threshold default model (generally based on cumulative exposure) used in regulatory risk assessments. With newly proposed US EPA rule language, fuller consideration of alternative exposure and dose-response metrics will be supported. "Peak" exposure has not been consistently defined and rarely has been evaluated in epidemiologic studies of cancer risks. We recommend developing uniform definitions of "peak" exposure to facilitate fuller evaluation of dose response for environmental chemicals and cancer risks, especially where mechanistic understanding indicates that the dose response is unlikely linear and that short-term high-intensity exposures increase risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harvey Checkoway
- Department of Family Medicine & Public HealthSan Diego School of Medicine, University of CaliforniaLa JollaCAUSA
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Santiago F, Lima S, Antunes S, Silvestre RT, Scherrer LR, Alves G, Ribeiro-Carvalho MDM, Ornellas MH. Imunophenotypic Evaluation as a Tool for Monitoring Risks for Blood Malignancies in Gas Station Workers. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev 2019; 20:2109-2115. [PMID: 31350973 PMCID: PMC6745222 DOI: 10.31557/apjcp.2019.20.7.2109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Gas station workers are exposed to carcinogenic substances with impact on the hematologic and immune systems. The aim was to apply the immunophenotyping as a tool in the biological monitoring. Methods: This is a workplace-based case-control study with 49 workers and 26 controls. Medical interviews, hematological exams, and immunophenotyping analyses were performed. According to risk behavior (cleaning flannel and mistrust in the automatic fuel supply) the workers were divided into two groups: low risk (group 1) and high risk (group 2). Results: The results showed that CD16, HLA-DR, CD25, CD56+, CD16 CD56 low, and CD56 high expressions were higher in workers when compared to the control group (P =0.020, P =0.001, P =0.001; P =0.034, P=0.023, and P =0.008, respectively). The expressions of CD2, CD8, CD10, CD8low, and CD4/CD8 ratios were lower (P =0.016, P =0.001, P=0.001, P= 0.017, P = 0.0259, and P =0.029, respectively). Headache and paresthesia complaints were associated with workers when compared to the control group (OR = 4.091, 95% CI, 1.400 -11.951, P = 0.014; OR =12.12, 95% CI, 1.505 - 97.61, P =0.004). Using cleaning flannel and mistrust in the automatic fuel supply (risk behaviors) were associated with group 2 (OR = 9.71, 95% CI, 2.60-36.26, P = 0.005; OR = 18.18, 95% CI, 2.04-161.37, P = 0.004). Conclusions: The results strengthen the worker’s immunosuppression hypothesis, which may contribute to some disorders and the carcinogenesis process. The evaluation of the immune system by flow cytometry is a promising tool for monitoring blood malignancy risk in addition to regular classic hematological exams.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabio Santiago
- Laboratory of Circulating Markers, Department of Pathology and Laboratories, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Rio de Janeiro State University, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. ,Postgraduate in Medical Sciences (PGCM), Rio de Janeiro State University, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Simone Lima
- Laboratory of Circulating Markers, Department of Pathology and Laboratories, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Rio de Janeiro State University, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. ,Postgraduate in Medical Sciences (PGCM), Rio de Janeiro State University, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Susani Antunes
- Laboratory of Circulating Markers, Department of Pathology and Laboratories, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Rio de Janeiro State University, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
| | - Rafaele Tavares Silvestre
- Laboratory of Circulating Markers, Department of Pathology and Laboratories, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Rio de Janeiro State University, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. ,Postgraduate in Medical Sciences (PGCM), Rio de Janeiro State University, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | | | - Gilda Alves
- Laboratory of Circulating Markers, Department of Pathology and Laboratories, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Rio de Janeiro State University, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. ,Postgraduate in Medical Sciences (PGCM), Rio de Janeiro State University, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Marilza de M Ribeiro-Carvalho
- Laboratory of Circulating Markers, Department of Pathology and Laboratories, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Rio de Janeiro State University, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
| | - Maria Helena Ornellas
- Laboratory of Circulating Markers, Department of Pathology and Laboratories, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Rio de Janeiro State University, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. ,Postgraduate in Medical Sciences (PGCM), Rio de Janeiro State University, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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Bonzini M, Grillo P, Consonni D, Cacace R, Ancona C, Forastiere F, Cocco PL, Satta G, Boldori L, Carugno M, Pesatori CA. Cancer risk in oil refinery workers: a pooled mortality study in Italy. LA MEDICINA DEL LAVORO 2019; 110:3-10. [PMID: 30794243 PMCID: PMC7810000 DOI: 10.23749/mdl.v110i1.7842] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2018] [Accepted: 01/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Background: Oil refinery workers are exposed to several well-established carcinogens and working in this type of industry has been classified by IARC as probable carcinogen to humans (Group 2A). Objectives: To examine the mortality experience of workers employed in four Italian oil refineries. Methods: The cohort included 5112 male workers ever employed between 1949 and 2011. The average follow-up period was 49 years. Standardized mortality ratios (SMR) and 95% Confidence Intervals (CI) were calculated using as reference age-gender-calendar specific regional rates. Analyses by duration of employment and latency were performed. Results: In the whole cohort, pleural cancer (6 deaths, SMR 1.59; 95% CI 0.71-3.53), brain cancer (14 deaths, SMR 1.47; 95% CI 0.87-2.49) and lymphatic leukemia (LL) (8 deaths, SMR 1.81; 95% CI 0.91-3.62) showed increased risks. All pleural cancers occurred after 10 years of latency and the highest risk was observed among workers with duration ≥20 years; the brain cancer excess was confined in the shortest duration and latency. The LL (and chronic lymphatic leukemia in particular) excess regarded workers with latency and duration longer than 20 years. Four deaths from acute myeloid leukemia (AML) were observed and all occurred after 20 years of latency (SMR 1.55, 95% CI 0.58-4.12); a two-fold-increased risk was observed in the longest duration. No increased risk for skin cancer has been observed in our study population. Conclusion: Our findings are consistent with recent evidence of an increased mortality from pleural and hematopoietic malignancies (AML and LL) among oil refinery workers. However, the lack of individual quantitative exposure data and the small number of observed events prevent the identification of the possible causal role of individual chemicals, including benzene, especially at the current very low exposure levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matteo Bonzini
- Dipartimento di Scienze Cliniche e di Comunità, Università degli Studi di Milano.
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Sauer E, Gauer B, Nascimento S, Nardi J, Göethel G, Costa B, Correia D, Matte U, Charão M, Arbo M, Duschl A, Moro A, Garcia SC. The role of B7 costimulation in benzene immunotoxicity and its potential association with cancer risk. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2018; 166:91-99. [PMID: 29883905 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2018.05.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2018] [Revised: 05/24/2018] [Accepted: 05/26/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Benzene is a recognized human carcinogen; however, there are still some gaps in the knowledge regarding the mechanism of toxicity of this organic solvent and potential early biomarkers for the damage caused by it. In a previous study, our research group demonstrated that the adhesion molecules of the immune system (B7.1 and B7.2) could be potential biomarkers in the early detection of immunotoxicity caused by benzene exposure. Therefore, this study was developed to deepen the understanding regarding this important topic, aiming to contribute to the comprehension of the benzene toxicity mechanism mediated by B7.1 and B7.2 and its potential association with the risk of carcinogenicity. B7.1 and B7.2 protein expression in blood monocytes and B7.1 and B7.2 gene expression in PBMCs were evaluated. Additionally, complement C3 and C4 levels in serum were measured, as well as p53 gene expression in PBMCs. Seventy-four gas station workers (GSW group) and 71 non-occupationally exposed subjects (NEG) were evaluated. Our results demonstrated decreased levels of B7.1 and B7.2 protein and gene expression in the GSW group compared to the NEG (n = 71) (p < 0.01). Along the same lines, decreased levels of the complement system were observed in the GSW group (p < 0.01), demonstrating the impairment of this immune system pathway as well. Additionally, a reduction was observed in p53 gene expression in the GSA group (p < 0.01). These alterations were associated with both the benzene exposure biomarker evaluated, urinary trans, trans-muconic acid, and with exposure time (p < 0.05). Moreover, strong correlations were observed between the gene expression of p53 vs. B7.1 (r = 0.830; p < 0.001), p53 vs. B7.2 (r = 0.685; p < 0.001), and B7.1 vs. B7.2 (r = 0.702; p < 0.001). Taken together, these results demonstrate that the immune system co-stimulatory molecule pathway is affected by benzene exposure. Also, the decrease in p53 gene expression, even at low exposure levels, reinforces the carcinogenicity effect of benzene in this pathway. Therefore, our results suggest that the promotion of immune evasion together with a decrease in p53 gene expression may play an important role in the benzene toxicity mechanism. However, further and targeted studies are needed to confirm this proposition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisa Sauer
- Laboratório de Toxicologia (LATOX), Departamento de Análises, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; Programa de Pós Graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Bruna Gauer
- Laboratório de Toxicologia (LATOX), Departamento de Análises, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; Programa de Pós Graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Sabrina Nascimento
- Laboratório de Toxicologia (LATOX), Departamento de Análises, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; Programa de Pós Graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Jessica Nardi
- Laboratório de Toxicologia (LATOX), Departamento de Análises, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; Programa de Pós Graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Gabriela Göethel
- Laboratório de Toxicologia (LATOX), Departamento de Análises, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; Programa de Pós Graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Bárbara Costa
- Laboratório de Toxicologia (LATOX), Departamento de Análises, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Douglas Correia
- Laboratório de Toxicologia (LATOX), Departamento de Análises, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; Programa de Pós Graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Ursula Matte
- Departamento de Genética, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Mariele Charão
- Instituto de Ciências das Saúde, Universidade Feevale, Novo Hamburgo, RS, Brazil
| | - Marcelo Arbo
- Laboratório de Toxicologia (LATOX), Departamento de Análises, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; Programa de Pós Graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Albert Duschl
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria
| | - Angela Moro
- Faculdade Especializada na Área de Saúde do Rio Grande do Sul, Passo Fundo, RS, Brazil
| | - Solange Cristina Garcia
- Laboratório de Toxicologia (LATOX), Departamento de Análises, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; Programa de Pós Graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
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Gross SA, Paustenbach DJ. Shanghai Health Study (2001-2009): What was learned about benzene health effects? Crit Rev Toxicol 2017; 48:217-251. [PMID: 29243948 DOI: 10.1080/10408444.2017.1401581] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
The Shanghai Health Study (SHS) was a large epidemiology study conducted as a joint effort between the University of Colorado and Fudan University in Shanghai, China. The study was funded by members of the American Petroleum Institute between 2001 and 2009 and was designed to evaluate the human health effects associated with benzene exposure. Two arms of the SHS included: an occupational-based molecular epidemiology study and several hospital-based case control studies. Consistent with historical literature, following sufficient exposure to relatively high airborne concentrations and years of exposure, the SHS concluded that exposure to benzene resulted in an increased risk of various blood and bone marrow abnormalities such as benzene poisoning, aplastic anemia (AA), myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), and acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) was not significantly increased for the exposures examined in this study. Perhaps the most important contribution of the SHS was furthering our understanding of the mechanism of benzene-induced bone marrow toxicity and the importance of identifying the proper subset of MDS relevant to benzene. Investigators found that benzene-exposed workers exhibited bone marrow morphology consistent with an immune-mediated inflammatory response. Contrary to historic reports, no consistent pattern of cytogenetic abnormalities was identified in these workers. Taken together, findings from SHS provided evidence that the mechanism for benzene-induced bone marrow damage was not initiated by chromosome abnormalities. Instead, chronic inflammation, followed by an immune-mediated response, is likely to play a more significant role in benzene-induced disease initiation and progression than previously thought.
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Jiménez-Garza O, Guo L, Byun HM, Carrieri M, Bartolucci GB, Zhong J, Baccarelli AA. Promoter methylation status in genes related with inflammation, nitrosative stress and xenobiotic metabolism in low-level benzene exposure: Searching for biomarkers of oncogenesis. Food Chem Toxicol 2017; 109:669-676. [DOI: 10.1016/j.fct.2017.08.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2017] [Accepted: 08/15/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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Poynter JN, Richardson M, Roesler M, Blair CK, Hirsch B, Nguyen P, Cioc A, Cerhan JR, Warlick E. Chemical exposures and risk of acute myeloid leukemia and myelodysplastic syndromes in a population-based study. Int J Cancer 2017; 140:23-33. [PMID: 27603749 PMCID: PMC5245124 DOI: 10.1002/ijc.30420] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2016] [Accepted: 08/19/2016] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Benzene exposure is one of the few well-established risk factors for myeloid malignancy. Exposure to other chemicals has been inconsistently associated with hematologic malignancies. We evaluated occupational and residential chemical exposures as risk factors for acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) using population-based data. AML and MDS cases were identified by the Minnesota Cancer Surveillance System. Controls were identified through the Minnesota driver's license/identification card list. Chemical exposures were measured by self-report. Unconditional logistic regression was used to calculate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). We included 265 MDS cases, 420 AML cases and 1388 controls. We observed significant associations between both MDS and AML and benzene (OR = 1.77, 95% CI 1.19, 2.63 and OR = 2.10, 95% CI 1.35, 3.28, respectively) and vinyl chlorides (OR = 2.05, 95% CI 1.15, 3.63 and OR = 2.81, 95% CI 1.14, 6.92). Exposure to soot, creosote, inks, dyes and tanning solutions and coal dust were associated with AML (range ORs = 2.68-4.03), while no association was seen between these exposures and MDS (range ORs = 0.57-1.68). Pesticides and agricultural chemicals were not significantly associated with AML or MDS. Similar results were observed in analyses stratified by sex. In addition to providing risk estimates for benzene from a population-based sample, we also identified a number of other occupational and residential chemicals that were significantly associated with AML; however, all exposures were reported by only a small percentage of cases (≤10%). While chemical exposures play a clear role in the etiology of myeloid malignancy, these exposures do not account for the majority of cases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenny N. Poynter
- Division of Epidemiology and Clinical Research, Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
- Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
| | - Michaela Richardson
- Division of Epidemiology and Clinical Research, Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
| | - Michelle Roesler
- Division of Epidemiology and Clinical Research, Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
| | - Cindy K. Blair
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM
- University of New Mexico Comprehensive Cancer Center, Albuquerque, NM
| | - Betsy Hirsch
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
| | - Phuong Nguyen
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
| | | | - James R. Cerhan
- Division of Epidemiology, Department of Health Sciences Research, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
| | - Erica Warlick
- Blood and Marrow Transplant Program, Division of Hematology, Oncology, and Transplantation, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
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Hydroquinone-induced malignant transformation of TK6 cells by facilitating SIRT1-mediated p53 degradation and up-regulating KRAS. Toxicol Lett 2016; 259:133-142. [DOI: 10.1016/j.toxlet.2016.08.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2016] [Revised: 07/27/2016] [Accepted: 08/07/2016] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
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26
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Gudzenko N, Hatch M, Bazyka D, Dyagil I, Reiss RF, Brenner A, Chumak V, Babkina N, Zablotska LB, Mabuchi K. Non-radiation risk factors for leukemia: A case-control study among chornobyl cleanup workers in Ukraine. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2015; 142:72-6. [PMID: 26117815 PMCID: PMC4609257 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2015.06.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2015] [Revised: 06/12/2015] [Accepted: 06/13/2015] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Occupational and environmental exposure to chemicals such as benzene has been linked to increased risk of leukemia. Cigarette smoking and alcohol consumption have also been found to affect leukemia risk. Previous analyses in a large cohort of Chornobyl clean-up workers in Ukraine found significant radiation-related increased risk for all leukemia types. We investigated the potential for additional effects of occupational and lifestyle factors on leukemia risk in this radiation-exposed cohort. METHODS In a case-control study of chronic lymphocytic and other leukemias among Chornobyl cleanup workers, we collected data on a range of non-radiation exposures. We evaluated these and other potential risk factors in analyses adjusting for estimated bone marrow radiation dose. We calculated Odds Ratios and 95% Confidence Intervals in relation to lifestyle factors and occupational hazards. RESULTS After adjusting for radiation, we found no clear association of leukemia risk with smoking or alcohol but identified a two-fold elevated risk for non-CLL leukemia with occupational exposure to petroleum (OR=2.28; 95% Confidence Interval 1.13, 6.79). Risks were particularly high for myeloid leukemias. No associations with risk factors other than radiation were found for chronic lymphocytic leukemia. CONCLUSIONS These data - the first from a working population in Ukraine - add to evidence from several previous reports of excess leukemia morbidity in groups exposed environmentally or occupationally to petroleum or its products.
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Affiliation(s)
- N Gudzenko
- National Research Center for Radiation Medicine, Kyiv, Ukraine.
| | - M Hatch
- Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD, USA.
| | - D Bazyka
- National Research Center for Radiation Medicine, Kyiv, Ukraine.
| | - I Dyagil
- National Research Center for Radiation Medicine, Kyiv, Ukraine.
| | - R F Reiss
- Department of Medicine, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA.
| | - A Brenner
- Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD, USA.
| | - V Chumak
- National Research Center for Radiation Medicine, Kyiv, Ukraine.
| | - N Babkina
- National Research Center for Radiation Medicine, Kyiv, Ukraine.
| | - L B Zablotska
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
| | - K Mabuchi
- Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD, USA.
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De Braekeleer M, De Braekeleer E, Douet-Guilbert N. Geographic/ethnic variability of chromosomal and molecular abnormalities in leukemia. Expert Rev Anticancer Ther 2015. [DOI: 10.1586/14737140.2015.1068123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
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Glass DC, Wood E, Del Monaco A, Sim MR. Cohort Profile: Health Watch-a 30-year prospective cohort study of Australian petroleum industry workers. Int J Epidemiol 2015; 45:700-6. [PMID: 26157111 DOI: 10.1093/ije/dyv121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Deborah C Glass
- Monash University, Centre for Occupational and Environmental Health, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Elisa Wood
- Monash University, Centre for Occupational and Environmental Health, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Anthony Del Monaco
- Monash University, Centre for Occupational and Environmental Health, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Malcolm R Sim
- Monash University, Centre for Occupational and Environmental Health, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
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Stenehjem JS, Kjærheim K, Bråtveit M, Samuelsen SO, Barone-Adesi F, Rothman N, Lan Q, Grimsrud TK. Benzene exposure and risk of lymphohaematopoietic cancers in 25 000 offshore oil industry workers. Br J Cancer 2015; 112:1603-12. [PMID: 25867262 PMCID: PMC4453669 DOI: 10.1038/bjc.2015.108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2014] [Revised: 02/20/2015] [Accepted: 02/24/2015] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The aim of this work was to examine the risk of lymphohaematopoietic (LH) cancer according to benzene exposure among offshore workers. METHODS Cancer registry data were used to identify 112 cancer cases diagnosed during 1999-2011 in a cohort of 24 917 Norwegian men reporting offshore work between 1965 and 1999. Analyses were conducted according to a stratified case-cohort design with a reference subcohort of 1661 workers. Cox regression was used to estimate hazard ratios with 95% confidence intervals, adjusted for other benzene exposure and smoking. RESULTS Most workers were exposed to benzene for <15 years. The upper range values of average intensity and cumulative exposure were estimated to 0.040 p.p.m. and 0.948 p.p.m.-years, respectively. Risks were consistently elevated among exposed workers for all LH cancers combined and for most subgroups, although case numbers were small and yielded imprecise risk estimates. There was evidence of dose-related risk patterns according to cumulative exposure for acute myeloid leukaemia (AML), multiple myeloma (MM) (P trends 0.052 and 0.024, respectively), and suggestively so for chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) according to average intensity (P trend 0.094). CONCLUSIONS Our results support an association between cumulative and intensity metrics of low-level benzene exposure and risk for AML, MM, and suggestively for CLL.
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Affiliation(s)
- J S Stenehjem
- Department of Research, Cancer Registry of Norway, P.O. Box 5313 Majorstuen, Oslo N-0304, Norway
| | - K Kjærheim
- Department of Research, Cancer Registry of Norway, P.O. Box 5313 Majorstuen, Oslo N-0304, Norway
| | - M Bråtveit
- Department of Global Public Health and Primary Care, University of Bergen, Bergen N-5020, Norway
| | - S O Samuelsen
- Department of Mathematics, University of Oslo, Oslo N-0316, Norway
| | - F Barone-Adesi
- Population Health Research Institute, St George's University of London, London SW17 0RE, UK
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Eastern Piedmont, Novara 28100, Italy
| | - N Rothman
- Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Q Lan
- Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - T K Grimsrud
- Department of Research, Cancer Registry of Norway, P.O. Box 5313 Majorstuen, Oslo N-0304, Norway
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Occupational exposure of diesel station workers to BTEX compounds at a bus depot. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2015; 12:4101-15. [PMID: 25872020 PMCID: PMC4410235 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph120404101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2015] [Revised: 03/26/2015] [Accepted: 04/03/2015] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Diesel fuel is known to emit pollutants that have a negative impact on environmental and human health. In developing countries like South Africa, attendants are employed to pump fuel for customers at service stations. Attendants refuel vehicles with various octane unleaded fuel, lead-replacement petrol and diesel fuel, on a daily basis. Attendants are at risk to adverse health effects associated with the inhalation of volatile organic compounds released from these fuels. The pollutants released include benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylenes (BTEX), which are significant due to their high level of toxicity. In this study, a risk assessment of BTEX was conducted at a diesel service station for public buses. Using Radiello passive samplers, it was found that benzene concentrations were above recommended international standards. Due to poor ventilation and high exposure duration, the average benzene concentration over the sampling campaign exceeded the US Environmental Protection Agency’s chronic inhalation exposure reference concentration. Lifetime cancer risk estimation showed that on average there is a 3.78 × 10−4 cancer risk, corresponding to an average chronic daily intake of 1.38 × 10−3 mg/kg/day of benzene exposure. Additionally, there were incidences where individuals were at potential hazard risk of benzene and toluene that may pose non-carcinogenic effects to employees.
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De Palma G, Manno M. Metabolic polymorphisms and biomarkers of effect in the biomonitoring of occupational exposure to low-levels of benzene: state of the art. Toxicol Lett 2014; 231:194-204. [PMID: 25447454 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxlet.2014.10.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2014] [Revised: 10/07/2014] [Accepted: 10/09/2014] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Current levels of occupational exposure to benzene, a genotoxic human carcinogen, in Western countries are reduced by two-three orders of magnitude (from ppm to ppb) as compared to the past. However, as benzene toxicity is strongly dependent on biotransformation and recent evidence underlines a higher efficiency of bio-activation pathways at lower levels of exposure, toxic effects at low doses could be higher than expected, particularly in susceptible individuals. Currently, biological monitoring can allow accurate exposure assessment, relying on sensitive and specific enough biomarkers of internal dose. The availability of similarly reliable biomarkers of early effect or susceptibility could greatly improve the risk assessment process to such an extent that risk could even be assessed at the individual level. As to susceptibility biomarkers, functional genetic polymorphisms of relevant biotransformation enzymes may modulate the risk of adverse effects (NQO1) and the levels of biomarkers of internal dose, in particular S-phenylmercapturic acid (GSTM1, GSTT1, GSTA1). Among biomarkers of early effect, genotoxicity indicators, although sensitive in some cases, are too aspecific for routine use in occupational health surveillance programmes. Currently only the periodical blood cell count seems suitable enough to be applied in the longitudinal monitoring of effects from benzene exposure. Novel biomarkers of early effect are expected from higher collaboration among toxicologists and clinicians, also using advanced "omics" techniques.
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Affiliation(s)
- G De Palma
- Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences and Public Health, Section of Public Health and Human Sciences, University of Brescia, Piazzale Spedali Civili 1, 25123 Brescia, Italy.
| | - M Manno
- Department of Public Health, Section of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology, University of Napoli Federico II, Via S. Pansini, 5, 80131 Napoli, Italy
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The diagnostic value of DNA methylation in leukemia: a systematic review and meta-analysis. PLoS One 2014; 9:e96822. [PMID: 24810788 PMCID: PMC4014555 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0096822] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2014] [Accepted: 04/11/2014] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Accumulating evidence supports a role of DNA methylation in the pathogenesis of leukemia. The aim of our study was to evaluate the potential genes with aberrant DNA methylation in the prediction of leukemia risk by a comprehensive meta-analysis of the published data. Methods A series of meta-analyses were done among the eligible studies that were harvested after a careful filtration of the searching results from PubMed literature database. Mantel-Haenszel odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were computed for each methylation event assuming the appropriate model. Results A total of 535 publications were initially retrieved from PubMed literature database. After a three-step filtration, we harvested 41 case-control articles that studied the role of gene methylation in the prediction of leukemia risk. Among the involving 30 genes, 20 genes were shown to be aberrantly methylated in the leukemia patients. A further subgroup meta-analysis by subtype of leukemia showed that CDKN2A, CDKN2B, ID4 genes were significantly hypermethylated in acute myeloid leukemia. Conclusions Our meta-analyses identified strong associations between a number of genes with aberrant DNA methylation and leukemia. Further studies should be required to confirm the results in the future.
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Glass DC, Schnatter AR, Tang G, Irons RD, Rushton L. Risk of myeloproliferative disease and chronic myeloid leukaemia following exposure to low-level benzene in a nested case–control study of petroleum workers. Occup Environ Med 2014; 71:266-74. [DOI: 10.1136/oemed-2013-101664] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
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