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Biomarkers of oxidative stress in electroplating workers exposed to hexavalent chromium

Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology volume 28, pages 76–83 (2018)Cite this article

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Abstract

This study evaluates levels of biomarkers of oxidative DNA damage and lipid peroxidation in 105 male workers at 16 electroplating companies who had been exposed to hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)). The study participants were 230 non-smoking male workers, comprising 105 electroplating workers who had been exposed to chromium and 125 control subjects who performed office tasks. Personal air samples, spot urine samples, hair samples, fingernail samples and questionnaires were used to quantify exposure to Cr(VI), oxidative DNA damage, lipid peroxidation, and environmental pollutants. Both the geometric mean personal concentrations of Cr(VI) of the Cr-exposed workers and the total Cr concentrations in the air to which they were exposed significantly exceeded those for the control subjects. The geometric mean concentrations of Cr in urine, hair and fingernails, and the urinary 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in the Cr(VI) exposed workers exceeded those in the control subjects. Daily cumulative Cr(VI) exposure and urinary Cr were significantly correlated with urinary 8-OHdG levels following adjustments for covariates. A ten-fold increase in urinary Cr level was associated with a 1.73-fold increase in urinary 8-OHdG level. Daily cumulative Cr(VI) exposure and urinary Cr level were significantly correlated with urinary MDA level following adjustments for covariates. A ten-fold increase in urinary Cr was associated with a 1.45-fold increase in urinary MDA. Exposure to Cr(VI) increased oxidative DNA injury and the oxidative deterioration of lipids in electroplating workers.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by the Institute of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Ministry of Labor, Taiwan (Grant number: IOSH99-M303).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health, Ministry of Labor, New Taipei City, Taiwan

    Chih-Hong Pan

  2. School of Public Health, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan

    Chih-Hong Pan & Ching-Huang Lai

  3. School of Community and Environmental Health, College of Health Sciences, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, Virginia, USA

    Hueiwang Anna Jeng

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Pan, CH., Jeng, H. & Lai, CH. Biomarkers of oxidative stress in electroplating workers exposed to hexavalent chromium. J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol 28, 76–83 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1038/jes.2016.85

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