Styrene-oxide N-terminal valine haemoglobin adducts as biomarkers of occupational exposure to styrene

• Published in: International journal of hygiene and environmental health Vol. 211; no. 1; pp. 59 - 62
• Main Authors: Teixeira, J.P., Silva, S., Torres, J., Gaspar, J., Roach, J., Farmer, P.B., Rueff, J., Mayan, O.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Jena Elsevier GmbH 01-03-2008; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Air Pollutants, Occupational - analysis; Air. Soil. Water. Waste. Feeding; Biological and medical sciences; Biomarkers - analysis; Case-Control Studies; Environment. Living conditions; Epoxy Compounds - analysis; Female; Haemoglobin adducts; Hemoglobins - analysis; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Miscellaneous; Occupational exposure; Occupational Exposure - analysis; Occupational medicine; Public health. Hygiene; Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine; Sensitivity and Specificity; Styrene; Styrene - analysis; Toxicology; Valine - analysis; Occupational exposure; Haemoglobin adducts; Styrene; Biological marker; Organic solvent; Health and environment; Valine; Aminoacid; N terminal-Sequence; Hemoglobin; Environmental medicine; Molecular adduct; Occupational medicine; Public health
• ISSN: 1438-4639; 1618-131X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2007.02.008

Styrene is widely used in the production of various plastics, synthetic rubber and resins. Occupational exposure occurs mainly via inhalation and relatively high exposure occurs due to its use in manual application techniques. The aim of this study was to evaluate if SO-Hb adducts are a suitable biomarker for assessing occupational exposure to styrene. Seventy-five reinforced plastic workers and 77 control subjects were studied. In the selected population the main urinary styrene metabolites and the styrene oxide N-terminal valine (SO-Hb) adducts in human globin were quantified. The levels of SO-Hb adducts were significantly higher (
p<0.01) in the exposed subjects (5.98
pmol/g globin) when compared with controls (2.59
pmol/g globin) and a significant difference was found in levels of SO-Hb adducts between non-smokers and smokers among the control group. From our data we conclude that SO-Hb adduct measurement is a sensitive and specific means of assessing exposure to styrene at the occupational and environmental level.