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Updated: May 13, 2026

Long-term Behavioral and Reproductive Consequences of Embryonic Exposure to Low-dose Toxicants
Published on: March 6, 2018
Association of aryl hydrocarbon receptor gene polymorphism with the neurobehavioral function and autonomic nervous
Hongmei Zhang1, Jisheng Nie, Xin Li
1Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, PR China.
Objective:
To analyze the association of aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) gene polymorphism and the neurotoxicity induced by benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) in coke oven workers.
Methods:
Subjects, 214 coke oven workers and 81 controls, were detected for neurobehavioral function and autonomic nervous system (ANS) function. Airborne B[a]P concentration, urinary 1-hydroxypyrene level, and AhR gene polymorphisms were determined and analyzed for their association with B[a]P neurotoxicity.
Results:
Neurobehavioral function and ANS function were significantly decreased and dependent on B[a]P dose. The AhR GG, GA, and AA genotypes in G1661A fitted the Hardy-Weinberg equation, whereas C1549T and G1708A gene mutants were not detected. Indices indicating neurotoxicity showed no significant difference among individuals with AA, GG, or GA genotype except for the confusion-bewilderment (P > 0.05).
Conclusion:
The AhR gene polymorphism is not thought to correlate with B[a]P neurotoxicity among coke oven workers.
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