Endometriosis, infertility and occupational life: women's plea for recognition.

The objective of this study was to explore and describe the specificities of the occupational life of infertile endometriotic women treated by in vitro fertilization. We conducted a qualitative monocentric study between December 2020 and June 2021. Twelve semi-structured in-depth interviews using a theme-based interview guide with open questions were undertaken with infertile women with deep infiltrating endometriosis. Data analysis was conducted using an inductive approach according to the grounded theory method. Three main themes emerged from the interviews: (i) barriers to reconciling illness and work life, (ii) facilitating factors for well-being at work, and (iii) consequences and outlooks. It appeared that the time of infertility treatment represents a particular period of change in the working lives of women with endometriosis. For most women, these changes are experienced negatively, often with a renunciation of goals. For others, this is the time to communicate the difficulties linked to their illness to their professional entourage. There is a long path ahead to finally achieving recognition of endometriosis in the context of professional life.

Subfertile patients underestimate their risk factors of reprotoxic exposure.

BACKGROUND: Exposure of men and women to environmental reprotoxic agents is associated with impaired fertility and pregnancy rates after assisted reproductive treatment (ART). Nevertheless, such exposures are generally not systematically assessed in current practice before ART and subfertile men are generally less explored than women. Our objective was to study subfertile men and women's level of knowledge about reprotoxic agents, their perception of their own risk factors and the correlation between perceived and identified circumstances of exposure. RESULTS: In our public university hospital, 390 subfertile patients (185 men and 185 women) requiring assisted reproduction technique (ART) treatment, completed a self-report questionnaire before consultation, in order to assess patients' knowledge of reprotoxic exposures, sources of information about them and perception of their own circumstances of exposure. Then a standardized questionnaire was used by the physician during the consultation to estimate domestic, environmental and occupational risk factors of reprotoxic exposures (RFRE). We compared the patients' perception of exposure with the estimated RFRE. The reprotoxic agents knowledge score of patients was 61%. Their main sources of information were the media (40%), the internet (22%) and gynecologists (15%). The standardized questionnaire identified RFRE in 265/390 patients (68%); risk factor was statistically more frequent in men (77%) than in women (59%) (p < 0.05). In total, 141 of the 265 patients with identified RFRE (53%) were aware of their risk factor of reprotoxic exposure. CONCLUSION: We identified risk factors of reprotoxic exposures in the majority of subfertile patients, more frequently in men than in women, and half of patients were not aware of their exposures. Patients' main sources of information were extra medical. Efforts should be made to inform patients, especially men, about potential reprotoxic exposure and to enhance medical training about reprotoxic agents, as recommended by international guidelines. The detection and correction of environmental exposures in subfertile men could improve their fecundity, but also their general health, which has been shown to be poorer than health of fertile men.

RéSUMé: CONTEXTE: L'exposition des hommes et des femmes à des agents reprotoxiques environnementaux est. associée à une atération de leur fertilité et des taux de grossesse après assistance médicale à la procreation (AMP). Néanmoins, ces expositions ne sont généralement pas recherchées en pratique courante avant AMP et les hommes infertiles sont généralement moins explorés que les femmes. Notre objectif était d'analyser le niveau de connaissance des hommes et des femmes infertiles sur les expositions environnementales reprotoxiques, leur perception de leurs propres facteurs de risque et la correlation entre les expositions reprotoxiques perçues et celles identifiées. RESULTATS: Dans notre centre hospitalier universitaire, 390 patients infertiles (185 hommes et 185 femmes) nécessitant un traitement d'AMP ont complété un auto-questionnaire avant la consultation, afin d'évaluer leurs connaissances sur les expositions reprotoxiques, leurs sources d'information sur ce sujet, et leur perception de leurs propres expositions. Puis, lors de la consultation, le médecin utilisait un questionnaire standardisé pour estimer leurs facteurs de risque d'exposition reprotoxique (FRER) domestiques, environnementaux et professionnels. Nous avons comparé la perception par les patients de leurs propres expositions reprotoxiques avec le FRER estimé par le médecin. Le score de connaissance des agents reprotoxique des patients était de 61%. Leurs sources d'information principales étaient les medias (40%), internet (22%), et les gynécologues (15%). Le questionnaire standardisé identifiait un FRER chez 265/390 patients (68%); les FRER étaient significativement plus fréquents chez les hommes (77%) que chez le femmes (59%)(p < 0.05). Au total, 141 patients sur les 265 avec un FRER identifié étaient conscients de leur FRER. CONCLUSION: Nous avons identifié des facteurs de risque d'exposition reprotoxiques chez la majorité des patients infertiles, plus fréquemment chez les hommes que chez les femmes, et la moitié des patients n'étaient conscients de ces expositions. Les principals sources d'information des patients étaient extra-médicales. Des efforts sont nécessaires pour informer les patients, en particulier les hommes, sur les potentielles expositions reprotoxiques comme souligné par les recommandations internationales. La detection et la correction des expositions environnementales chez les hommes infertiles pourraient améliorer leur fécondité, mais aussi leur santé, qui a été démontrée comme moins bonne que celle des hommes fertiles.

Influence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon exposure on IVF: now is the time to focus on women.

RESEARCH QUESTION: Is polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) exposure associated with the reproductive outcomes of IVF treatment? DESIGN: A prospective, small-scale monocentric cohort study of couples who underwent IVF treatment between January 2018 and June 2019. Both members of each couple answered a questionnaire on PAH exposure and provided urine samples to measure urinary 1-hydroxypyrene (1-OHP) the day before oocyte retrieval and semen collection for fertilization. To assess the specific PAH exposure of gamete cells, immunostaining was conducted on both spermatozoa and granulosa cells obtained during IVF with an anti-benzo(a)pyrene diol epoxide (BPDE) monoclonal antibody that recognizes BDPE-DNA adducts. To assess DNA damage, a comet assay on spermatozoa was conducted. The PAH exposure was compared between couples who had positive HCG and couples who had negative HCG on day 14 after embryo transfer. RESULTS: Eighteen couples were included. The mean 1-OHP level in women whose HCG tests were positive (n = 6) was significantly lower than that in women with negative HCG tests (0.098 [0.042-0.170] versus 0.177 [0.067-0.812] µg/g creatinine; P = 0.048). The presence of BPDE-DNA adducts in granulosa cells of women with a negative (29.7 [16.2-57.5] arbitrary units) or positive HCG test (20.3 [9.3-23.3] arbitrary units) were not significantly different (P = 0.092). The urinary 1-OHP levels of men and BPDE-DNA adducts in spermatozoa showed no differences between groups. CONCLUSIONS: This exploratory research should encourage further studies to determine the effect of women's exposure to PAHs on reproductive outcomes of IVF treatment.

Meta-Analysis Reveals the Association Between Male Occupational Exposure to Solvents and Impairment of Semen Parameters.

OBJECTIVES: Solvent exposure is among the most common occupational exposures to chemical toxicants; data about the impact of such exposure on semen parameters are contradictory. We conducted the first meta-analysis to evaluate the risk of alteration in semen parameters related to occupational exposure to solvents. METHODS: From the PubMed database, we selected studies analyzing the semen of subjects occupationally exposed to solvents, compared with unexposed controls. The meta-analysis was performed on the various semen parameters analyzed in both populations. RESULTS: Seven studies were included in the study. The meta-analysis revealed a significant decrease in ejaculate volume [standardized mean difference (SMD) = -0.35 (-0.63 to -0.07)] and sperm concentration [SMD = -0.36 (-0.64 to -0.08)] in workers exposed to solvents compared with unexposed controls. CONCLUSION: Our results highlight the importance of preventing reprotoxic risks to male fertility in the workplace.

Psychosocial risks assessment at hospital: development of a French questionnaire.

BACKGROUND: In order to improve the well-being, health, and performance of hospital workers, it should be important to focus on the psychosocial risk (PSR) factors in the work environment and on job satisfaction. Although many epidemiological questionnaires are used to measure PSR among healthcare workers, no specific existing model can be applied to all categories of hospital workers. OBJECTIVE: To develop a short French self-administered instrument for measuring the PSR for hospital workers: the PSRH questionnaire. METHODS: The content of the PSRH questionnaire was partly derived from the well-known and standardized questionnaires (Karasek Job Content and Siegriest effort-reward imbalance questionnaires). The validation process was carried out in all the departments of a large public university hospital (Marseille, France). Eligible workers were adult employees present on the day of the assessment: healthcare, administrative, and technical workers. A total of 2203 subjects were included from September 2012 to October 2013. RESULTS: The PSRH contains 24 items describing 6 dimensions (Management, cooperation and hierarchical support; Requirements, constraints and autonomy related to work; Support and relationship with the team; Complexity of the work and unforeseen factors; Meaning of work and recognition; and Conciliation work - work out). The six-factor structure presented satisfactory internal consistency and scalability. All the scores showed significant correlations with a well-being score. Acceptability was high. CONCLUSION: The PSRH is a self-administered instrument assessing PSR at hospital that presents satisfactory psychometric properties. Future studies should identify factors that determine low- and high-risk workers in order to implement appropriate preventing strategies.

A pilot study about infertile men's awareness of their reprotoxic exposures and the intervention of occupational medicine to assess them.

BACKGROUND: Male infertility related to professional reprotoxic exposure has been assessed in several studies. Collaboration between occupational physicians and patients can yield information about the preventive measures that can be taken to avoid such exposure. The use of preventive measures is determined by the collaboration between reproductive medicine and occupational medicine and also by the patient's awareness of reprotoxic occupational exposures. Our andrology laboratory developed a systematic environmental interview that an occupational physician administers before semen analysis to assess patients' occupational reprotoxic chemical and physical exposures. This observational prospective study evaluated patients' feelings regarding this interview. The main outcome measure was the participants' score to determine their general reprotoxicant knowledge. The study also evaluated the patients' satisfaction about the interview with occupational physician and their attitude about reproductive toxicants. RESULTS: The mean score for general knowledge of reprotoxicants was 9.6 ± 2.7/16. The most frequently underestimated reprotoxic factor was excessive heat (34.7 % correct responses). In cases of semen parameter abnormalities AND recognized occupational reprotoxic exposure, 63.2 % of the patients said they would use individual protective devices, and 55.1 % said they would temporarily adapt their workstation. Regarding the interview with the laboratory's occupational physician, 80.7 % considered it moderately or very useful. Of the interviewed patients, 46.2 % reported having changed their living habits 2 months after the interview, and 88.5 % were satisfied or very satisfied with the care they received. All of the respondents said it would be useful to extend the interview to include their wives. CONCLUSIONS: The data suggest that patients' knowledge about reprotoxic exposures can be improved, particularly knowledge related to physical exposure. The vast majority of patients were satisfied with the introduction of this new collaboration between reproductive and occupational medicine.

CONTEXTE: Plusieurs études ont mis en évidence des infertilités masculines en lien avec une exposition reprotoxique professionnelle. L'interaction entre médecin du travail et patient peut faire émerger des informations sur les mesures preventives à mettre en place pour éviter ces expositions. L'utilisation de ces mesures préventives est déterminée par la collaboration entre médecin de la reproduction et médecin du travail et également par la conscience du patient de subir une exposition professionnelle reprotoxique. Notre laboratoire de spermiologie a mis en place un entretien systématique environnemental, assuré par un médecin du travail avant l'analyse de sperme, dans le but d'établir les expositions professionnelles reprotoxiques chimiques et physiques de chaque patient. Cette étude observationnelle prospective évalue la perception des patients de cet entretien. Le critère d'évaluation principal est le score de chaque patient évaluant ses connaissances générales sur les reprotoxiques. L'étude évalue également la satisfaction des patients à propos de cet entretien avec le médecin du travail et leur attitude vis à vis des reprotoxiques. RESULTATS: Le score moyen de connaissances générales sur les reprotoxiques était de 9.6 ± 2.7/16. Le facteur reprotoxique le plus fréquemment sous estimé était la chaleur excessive (34.7 % de bonnes réponses). En cas d'altération des paramètres spermatiques associée à des expositions professionnelles reprotoxiques, 63.2 % des patients se disaient prêts à utiliser des dispositifs de protection individuelle, et 55.1 % à accepter une adaptation temporaire de leur poste de travail. Concernant l'entretien avec le médecin du travail du laboratoire de spermiologie, 80.7 % le considéraient modérément ou très utile. Parmi les participants, 46.2 % rapportaient un changement dans leurs habitudes de vie 2 mois après l'entretien, et 88.5 % étaient satisfaits ou très satisfaits des soins reçus. Tous les participants trouveraient utile d'étendre cet entretien à leur compagne. CONCLUSIONS: Nos résultats suggèrent que les connaissances des patients sur les expositions reprotoxiques peuvent être améliorées, particulièrement en ce qui concerne les expositions physiques. La grande majorité des patients était satisfaite de l'introduction de cette nouvelle collaboration entre médecine de la reproduction et médecine du travail.

Sperm mRNAs and microRNAs as candidate markers for the impact of toxicants on human spermatogenesis: an application to tobacco smoking.

Spermatozoa contain a complex population of RNAs including messenger RNAs (mRNAs) and small RNAs such as microRNAs (miRNA). It has been reported that these RNAs can be used to understand the mechanisms by which toxicological exposure affects spermatogenesis. The aim of our study was to compare mRNA and miRNA profiles in spermatozoa from eight smokers and eight non-smokers, and search for potential relationships between mRNA and miRNA variation. All men were selected based on their answers to a standard toxic exposure questionnaire, and sperm parameters. Using mRNA and miRNA microarrays, we showed that mRNAs from 15 genes were differentially represented between smokers and non-smokers (p<0.01): five had higher levels and 10 lower levels in the smokers. For the microRNAs, 23 were differentially represented: 16 were higher and seven lower in the smokers (0.004≤p<0.01). Quantitative RT-PCR confirmed the lower levels in smokers compared to non-smokers for hsa-miR-296-5p, hsa-miR-3940, and hsa-miR-520d-3p. Moreover, we observed an inverse relationship between the levels of microRNAs and six potential target mRNAs (B3GAT3, HNRNPL, OASL, ODZ3, CNGB1, and PKD2). Our results indicate that alterations in the level of a small number of microRNAs in response to smoking may contribute to changes in mRNA expression in smokers. We conclude that large-scale analysis of spermatozoa RNAs can be used to help understand the mechanisms by which human spermatogenesis responds to toxic substances including those in tobacco smoke.

The airport atmospheric environment: respiratory health at work.

Air traffic is increasing, raising concern about local pollution and its adverse health effects on the people living in the vicinity of large airports. However, the highest risk is probably occupational exposure due to proximity. Jet exhaust is one of the main concerns at an airport and may have a health impact, particularly on the respiratory tract. Current studies are neither numerous enough nor strong enough to prove this kind of association. Yet, more and more people work in airports, and occupational exposure to jet exhaust is a fact. The aim of this review was to evaluate the existing knowledge regarding the impact of airport pollution on respiratory health. We conducted systematic literature searches to examine workplace exposures.

In smokers, swim-up and discontinuous gradient centrifugation recover spermatozoa with equally lower amounts of DNA damage than spermatozoa obtained from neat semen.

We compared the abilities of two commonly used semen preparation techniques to decrease the amount of benzo(a)pyrene-diol-epoxide (BPDE)-DNA adducts in the spermatozoa of ten smokers. Semen processing by swim-up or discontinuous gradient centrifugation recovered spermatozoa showing an equally significantly lower amount of BPDE-DNA adducts than in unprepared spermatozoa from neat semen.

Tobacco consumption and benzo(a)pyrene-diol-epoxide-DNA adducts in spermatozoa: in smokers, swim-up procedure selects spermatozoa with decreased DNA damage.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the distribution of benzo(a)pyrene-diol-epoxide (BPDE)-DNA adducts in spermatozoa selected and nonselected by a swim-up procedure with relation to smoking habits. DESIGN: Comparative study. SETTING: Public university and public university hospital. PATIENT(S): Seventy-nine men (37 smokers and 42 nonsmokers) who visited an infertility clinic for diagnostic. INTERVENTION(S): Tobacco and environmental exposure assessment, semen sample analysis, swim-up procedure, BPDE-DNA adduct immunolabeling. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): BPDE-DNA adduct quantification in selected (SEL-SPZ) and nonselected (NONSEL-SPZ) spermatozoa. Data were normalized by using a normalized fluorescence value (NFV). RESULT(S): The mean NFV (±SD) in SEL-SPZ was significantly higher in smokers than in nonsmokers (18.9±11.5 vs. 10.5±10.4, respectively). Within smokers, a paired analysis (SEL-SPZ and NONSEL-SPZ) showed that NFV was significantly lower in SEL-SPZ than in NONSEL-SPZ (20.0±11.3 vs. 31.5±16.0, respectively). Conversely, within nonsmokers, the mean NFV was higher in SEL-SPZ than in NONSEL-SPZ (10.3±10.6 vs 4.3±7.1, respectively). CONCLUSION(S): Tobacco consumption is associated with BPDE-DNA adducts in spermatozoa. In smokers, semen processing by swim-up recovers potentially fertilizing spermatozoa that show a significantly lower amount of BPDE-DNA adducts compared with NONSEL-SPZ. Further study is needed to improve the spermatozoa selection in smoking patients requiring assisted reproductive technologies.

Integrated exposure assessment of sewage workers to genotoxicants: an urinary biomarker approach and oxidative stress evaluation.

BACKGROUND: Sewage workers are exposed to multiple chemicals among which many are suspected genotoxicants. Therefore, they might incur DNA damage and oxidative stress. We aimed to explore integrated urinary biomarkers, assessing the overall urine genotoxicity by in vitro comet and micronucleus assays and measuring urinary 8-oxo-2'-deoxyguanosine. METHODS: During three consecutive working days, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and volatile organic compounds were sampled in workplace air of 34 sewage and 30 office workers, as indicators of airborne exposure. The last day, subjects collected their 24 hours urine. Genotoxicity of urinary extracts was assessed by comet and micronucleus assays on a HepG2 cell line. Using competitive enzymatic immunoassay we evaluated the 24 hours urinary 8-oxo-2'-deoxyguanosine excretion. Benzo(a)pyrene toxicity equivalent factors and inhalation unit risk for Benzo(a)pyrene and benzene were used to give an estimate of cancer risk levels. RESULTS: Workplace air concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (e.g. 23.7 [range 2.4-104.6] ng.m-3 for fluoranthene) and volatile organic compounds (e.g. 19.1 ± 2.9 [standard error] µ.m-3 for benzene) were elevated in sewage compared to office workplaces (P < 0.01) and corresponded to an increased lifetime cancer risk. The urinary extracts of sewage workers showed higher genotoxicity (P < 0.001) than office workers. CONCLUSIONS: The integrated and non-specific urinary biomarkers of exposure showed that sewage workers experience exposure to mixtures of genotoxicants in the workplace.

The effect of workload on biological monitoring of occupational exposure to toluene and n-Hexane: contribution of physiologically based toxicokinetic modeling.

A physiologically based toxicokinetic model was used to examine the impact of work load on the relationship between the airborne concentrations and exposure indicator levels of two industrial solvents, toluene and n-Hexane. The authors simulated occupational exposure (8 hr/day, 5 days/week) at different concentrations, notably 20 ppm and 50 ppm, which are the current threshold limit values recommended by ACGIH for toluene and n-hexane, respectively. Different levels of physical activity, namely, rest, 25 W, and 50 W (for 12 hr followed by 12 hr at rest) were simulated to assess the impact of work load on the recommended biological exposure indices: toluene in blood prior to the last shift of the workweek, urinary o-cresol (a metabolite of toluene) at the end of the shift, and free (nonhydrolyzed) 2,5-hexanedione (a metabolite of n-hexane) at the end of the shift at the end of the workweek. In addition, urinary excretion of unchanged toluene was simulated. The predicted biological concentrations were compared with the results of both experimental studies among human volunteers and field studies among workers. The highest predicted increase with physical exercise was noted for toluene in blood (39 microg/L at 50 W vs. 14 microg/L at rest for 20 ppm, i.e., a 2.8-fold increase). The end-of-shift urinary concentrations of o-cresol and toluene were two times higher at 50 W than at rest (for 20 ppm, 0.65 vs. 0.33 mg/L for o-cresol and 43 vs. 21 microg/L for toluene). Urinary 2,5-hexanedione predicted for 50 ppm was 1.07 mg/L at 50 W and 0.92 mg/L at rest (+16%). The simulations that best describe the concentrations among workers exposed to toluene are those corresponding to 25 W or less. In conclusion, toxicokinetic modeling confirms the significant impact of work load on toluene exposure indicators, whereas only a very slight effect is noted on n-hexane kinetics. These results highlight the necessity of taking work load into account in risk assessment relative to toluene exposure.

Occupational exposures obtained by questionnaire in clinical practice and their association with semen quality.

In industrial countries, evidence suggests that semen quality has been steadily decreasing over the past 5 decades. We employed a short questionnaire to examine the association between self-reported physical or chemical occupational exposures and semen quality. The study included 402 men consulting for couple infertility (314 with oligospermia, asthenospermia, or teratospermia and 88 with normal semen; World Health Organization criteria). Exposure effects on global sperm quality and total sperm count, sperm motility, and sperm morphology were investigated. We found significant associations between semen impairment and occupational risk factors such as exposure to heavy metals (adjusted odds ratio [OR] = 5.4; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.6-18.1), solvents (OR = 2.5; 95% CI, 1.4-4.4), fumes (OR = 1.9; 95% CI, 1.1-3.4), and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (OR = 1.9; 95% CI, 1.1-3.5). Exposure to pesticides or cement was nearly significant (OR = 3.6; 95% CI, 0.8-15.8, and OR = 2.5; 95% CI, 0.95-6.5, respectively). Physical risk factors were associated with some sperm anomalies, such as mechanical vibrations with oligospermia and teratospermia as well as excess heat and extended sitting periods with impaired motility. Exposure to ionizing radiation and electromagnetic fields was not associated with semen impairment; these results, however, may be skewed, because very few subjects reported such exposure. Despite the small dataset, self-reported exposures were correlated with semen impairment. This approach may be recommended in routine clinical practice to seek relationships between occupational exposures to reprotoxic agents and impaired semen parameters. This knowledge would allow preventive measures in the workplace to be established and could be complemented by the use of biomarkers to better characterize exposure to chemical substances and their spermiotoxic effects.

[Exposure science: the need to articulate the data related to hazards, to the worker and to his activity]. / L'expologie ou la nécessité d'articuler les données relatives aux dangers, à l'homme et à son activité.

To optimise the prevention of occupational risks, it seems necessary to revise existing methodological approaches by organizing and better articulating the data concerning hazards, the worker and, his activity. In the context of occupational health, exposure science offers the opportunity to regroup and link knowledge and know-how in order to fully characterise hazardous occupational exposure. The authors illustrate the interest of this approach using the example of a field study on the characterisation of occupational exposures to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.

Evaluation of a battery of Salmonella typhimurium tester strains for biomonitoring of mutagenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, nitroarenes and aromatic amines.

Various combinations of Salmonella typhimurium tester strains and S9 mix for bioactivation (TA98+S9 mix, TA98S; YG1041+S9 mix, YG1041S) and strain YG1041 in the absence of S9 mix (YG1041) were used to evaluate the mutagenic activity of eight polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), seven nitroarenes (NAs) and seven aromatic amines (AAs). Three cigarette smoke extracts and two extracts of smokers' urine (SUE) were also included. Urinary mutagenicity was then determined on 31 individuals, potentially exposed to PAHs, for 0 h, 7 h, 12 h and 24 h. Concentrations of urinary 1-hydroxypyrene (1OHP) and 3-hydroxybenzo[a]pyrene (3OHBaP), the levels of atmospheric pyrene (Py) and benzo[a]pyrene (BaP), and particulate concentrations in air (AP) were also measured. PAHs could be detected by TA98S and YG1041S, with TA98S being more sensitive than YG1041S. While NAs could be detected by all combinations, YG1041 and YG1041S were more sensitive than TA98S. Although both YG1041S and TA98S could detect AAs, YG1041S was more sensitive than TA98S. Cigarette smoke extract contained mutagenic AAs and NAs, but AAs were the only mutagenic compounds detected in the extracts of smokers' urine. The concentrations of 1OHP (7 h and 12 h) were significantly higher than those at 0 h, but no difference could be detected with 3OHBaP. Correlations were found between Py and 1OHP (7 h and 24 h) and between BaP and 3OHBaP concentrations (7 h, 12 h and 24 h). A significantly elevated urinary mutagenicity was detected with YG1041S at 7h in the group of smokers. A good correlation was determined between AP and the test results with TA98S (7 h) and with YG1041 (0 h and 7 h). Urinary 1OHP correlated with the test results with YG1041S (0 h, 7 h and 12 h) while 3OHBaP correlated with those obtained with YG1041S (7 h). Overall, 21/31 individuals were occupationally exposed to AAs, 15/31 individuals were exposed to NAs, and 2/31 were exposed to PAHs as indicated by the Salmonella mutagenicity assay. The urine mutagenicity test was not effective at monitoring occupational exposure to PAHs. However, the correlation with AP implied the presence of unknown mutagenic atmospheric substances that could modulate the urinary mutagenicity.

Assessment of occupational exposure to welding fumes by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectroscopy and by the alkaline Comet assay.

Welding fumes are classified as possibly carcinogenic to humans (Group 2B) by the International Agency for Research on Cancer. In the current study, blood and urine concentrations of aluminum (Al), cadmium (Cd), cobalt (Co), chromium (Cr), manganese (Mn), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), and zinc (Zn) were monitored by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) in 30 welders and in 22 controls. In addition, DNA damage was examined in the lymphocytes of these subjects by the alkaline Comet assay. Two biological samples were taken from the welders at the beginning (BW) and at the end (EW) of a work week. In controls, collection of samples was limited to BW. Blood concentrations of Cd, Co, Cr, Ni, and Pb were higher in the welders than in the control group while higher concentrations of Al, Cd, Co, Cr, Ni, and Pb were detected in welder urines. There was no significant difference in the metal concentrations for the BW and EW welder samples. Increased levels of DNA damage were found in lymphocytes from welders as compared to the controls, and 20/30 welders had higher levels of DNA lesions in the EW than in the BW samples. Age had a significant effect on DNA damage in the control group. Spearman's rank correlation analysis indicated that there were positive correlations between blood concentrations of Al, Co, Ni, and Pb and the levels of DNA damage. A negative correlation was found between DNA damage and Mn in blood, while there was a positive correlation between urinary Mn concentration and DNA damage. These data indicate that occupational exposure to welding fumes increases DNA damage in lymphocytes.