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. 2005 Apr;62(4):216–222. doi: 10.1136/oem.2004.015107

Exposure to traffic exhausts and oxidative DNA damage

C Lai 1, S Liou 1, H Lin 1, T Shih 1, P Tsai 1, J Chen 1, T Yang 1, J Jaakkola 1, P Strickland 1
PMCID: PMC1740998  PMID: 15778253

Abstract

Aims: To assess the relations between exposure to traffic exhausts and indicators of oxidative DNA damage among highway toll station workers.

Methods: Cross-sectional study of 47 female highway toll station workers exposed to traffic exhausts and 27 female office workers as a reference group. Exposure assessment was based on average and cumulative traffic density and a biomarker of exposure, urinary 1-hydroxypyrene-glucuronide (1-OHPG). Urinary 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) was used as a biomarker of oxidative DNA damage. Plasma nitric oxide (NO) was measured as an indicator of oxidative stress related to traffic exhaust exposure.

Results: The mean concentration of urinary 8-OHdG was substantially higher among the exposed non-smokers (13.6 µg/g creatinine) compared with the reference non-smokers (7.3 µg/g creatinine; difference 6.3, 95% CI 3.0 to 9.6). The mean concentration of NO among the exposed (48.0 µmol/l) was also higher compared with the reference non-smokers (37.6 µmol/l; difference 10.4, 95% CI –0.4 to 21.2). In linear regression adjusting for confounding, a change in log(8-OHdG) was statistically significantly related to a unit change in log(1-OHPG) (ß = 0.372, 95% CI 0.081 to 0.663).

Conclusions: Results indicate that exposure to traffic exhausts increases oxidative DNA damage. Urinary 8-OHdG is a promising biomarker of traffic exhaust induced oxidative stress.

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Selected References

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