ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Evaluation of DNA Damage in People
Occupationally Exposed to Arsenic and Some
Heavy Metals
A. Szymańska-Chabowska, A. Beck, R. Poręba, R. Andrzejak,
J. Antonowicz-Juchniewicz
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Wrocław Medical University, Pasteura 4, 50-367 Wrocław, Poland
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2009;18(6):1131-1139
KEYWORDS
ABSTRACT
Arsenic (As) is a human carcinogen with a high risk of cancer development in people exposed to it in
industry and in the general environment. The mechanisms involved in arsenic carcinogenesis are still
unknown. There is a hypothesis that reactive oxygen species (ROS) may play an important role in arsenic
carcinogenesis. 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine is a nucleotide form that results from oxidative DNA damage,
which causes mutation in vitro and in vivo. So the occurrence of 8-OHdG (8-hydroxy-2’-deoxyguanosine) has
been used to study damaging effects on DNA of ROS.
The aim of our study was to investigate whether oxidative damage of DNA, determined by elevated
serum levels of 8-OHdG, could be observed in workers occupationally exposed to As and lead (Pb), and environmentally
to cadmium (Cd).
According to the aim, a group of 47 copper smelters, working in the copper foundry “Legnica”, and 20
matched non-exposed men were examined. Stressgen’s StressXpress DNA Damage ELISA Kit was used for
detection and quantitation of 8-hydroxy-2’-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) in serum samples.
The serum concentration of 8-OHdG was significantly higher in the study group than in the controls. No
significant differences between serum 8-OHdG concentration in the group of exposed smokers, exposed nonsmokers
and smoking controls were found.
Moreover, no significant correlations between serum concentration of 8-OHdG and arsenic, lead and cadmium
levels were observed, but people with the worst toxicological parameters showed higher 8-OHdG serum
concentration.
The results suggest that:
1. chronic mixed exposure to arsenic, cadmium and lead may result in oxidative DNA damage in humans;
2. 8-OHdG serum level measurement may be a useful tool for biomonitoring in the case of mixed occupational
exposure to these toxic metals and increased cancer risk.