Changes in Oxidative Stress Biomarker and Gene Expression Levels in Workers Exposed to Volatile Organic Compounds

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  • KIM Jin Hee
    Department of Preventive Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine Institute of Environmental Medicine, Seoul National University Medical Research Center
  • MOON Jae Yong
    Department of Preventive Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine
  • PARK Eun-Young
    Department of Preventive Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine
  • LEE Kwan-Hee
    Department of Occupational & Environmental Medicine, Inha University Hospital
  • HONG Yun-Chul
    Department of Preventive Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine Institute of Environmental Medicine, Seoul National University Medical Research Center

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Abstract

Exposure to volatile organic compounds (VOCs) was known to result in immunologic, respiratory, carcinogenic, reproductive, neurologic, and cardiovascular effects. However, the mechanisms by which VOCs induce these adverse health effects are not well understood. To evaluate the change of oxidative stress biomarker and gene expression levels in workers exposed to VOCs, we obtained urine and blood samples from 21 subjects before and after occupational exposure to VOCs. We measured levels of muconic acid (MuA), hippuric acid (HA), mandelic acid (MaA), and methyl hippuric acid (MHA) as urinary exposure biomarkers for benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene (collectively BTEX), and malondialdehyde (MDA) and 8-hydroxydeoxyguanine (8-OHdG) as oxidative stress biomarkers in all subjects. We also evaluated BTEX-mediated RNA expression using cDNA microarray in 14 subjects. HA and MHA levels were higher following occupational exposure to VOCs (p<0.01). In the linear regression analysis, HA ratios of after- and before-exposure were found to be significantly associated with increase of MDA ratios of after- and before-exposure after controlling for age, body mass index, and smoking (β=0.06, p=0.031). Evaluation of the gene expressions by HA showed that 23 gene expressions were found to be significantly associated with HA levels after adjusting for age, body mass index, and smoking (p<0.001). In particular, expressions of ENO3 and CDNA FLJ39461 fis among the 23 genes were significantly associated with the change in MDA level (p<0.05). Our study results suggest that exposure to VOCs, specifically toluene, induces oxidative stress and various gene expression change of which some may be responsible for oxidative stress.<br>

Journal

  • Industrial Health

    Industrial Health 49 (1), 8-14, 2011

    National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health

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