DNA adducts among asphalt paving workers.

Area of Science:

• Environmental Health
• Occupational Health
• Toxicology

Background:

• Asphalt contains carcinogens like polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.
• Epidemiologic studies suggest increased cancer risk in asphalt workers, but causality is unproven.

Purpose of the Study:

• To use DNA adducts as a biomarker for biologically effective dose.
• To determine if occupational asphalt exposure causes DNA damage in paving workers.

Main Methods:

• Collected blood samples from 49 paving and 36 non-paving workers over 12 months.
• Analyzed mononuclear white blood cells for DNA adducts using the (32)P-postlabeling assay.
• Employed generalized linear models to evaluate DNA adduct data.

Main Results:

• DNA adducts increased daily in paving workers, peaking on Fridays.
• Task-specific differences observed, with screedmen showing higher adduct levels than roller operators.
• Adduct levels were similar between paving and non-paving workers and showed seasonal variation.

Conclusions:

• Increased adduct burden suggests DNA damage associated with hot-mix asphalt exposure.
• Lack of difference between paving and non-paving workers and observed seasonal variations need further investigation.