The Experts below are selected from a list of 171 Experts worldwide ranked by ideXlab platform

Ulrich Gross - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • alcohol and Porphyrin Metabolism
    Alcohol and Alcoholism, 2000
    Co-Authors: M. Doss, Alexandra Kuhnel, Ulrich Gross
    Abstract:

    “Ethanol should be included in the list of drugs metabolized by hepatic microsomes” (Rubin and Lieber 1972). Such drugs stimulate their own Metabolism, in which heme synthesis is involved, and affect Porphyrin synthesis in various ways. Alteration of Porphyrin synthesis in an organism without hereditary and acquired toxic disturbances of Porphyrin Metabolism is an adaptive response. Generally, these adaptive responses elicited by alcohol or other drugs in an organism without preexistent derangements in the heme biosynthesis sequences do not lead to clinical consequences. However, certain drugs, including alcohol, are capable of expressing not only the latent but also the clinical phase of different porphyrias. Especially acute hepatic porphyrias are triggered by drugs and/or alcohol and have therefore been designated as “pharmacogenetic diseases” (Kalow 1962). In addition, alcohol is the most frequent manifesting and aggravating factor in chronic hepatic porphyria, including porphyria cutanea tarda, which is genetically predetermined in some of the patients (Doss 1982; Kushner 1982). The clinical-biochemical interactions between alcohol and Porphyrin/heme biosynthesis involve three main aspects: 1. Triggering the biochemical and clinical manifestation of acute and chronic hepatic porphyrias. 2. Development of symptomatic disturbances in Porphyrin Metabolism as secondary coproPorphyrinuria and secondary protoPorphyrinemia. 3. Inhibition and stimulation of certain enzymes in the heme biosynthetic chain.

  • INVITED REVIEW ALCOHOL AND Porphyrin Metabolism
    2000
    Co-Authors: M. Doss, Alexandra Kuhnel, Ulrich Gross
    Abstract:

    Alcohol is a Porphyrinogenic agent which may cause disturbances in Porphyrin Metabolism in healthy persons as well as biochemical and clinical manifestations of acute and chronic hepatic porphyrias. After excessive consumption of alcohol, a temporary, clinically asymptomatic secondary hepatic coproPorphyrinuria is observable, which can become persistent in cases of alcohol-induced liver damage. Nowadays, the alcohol-liver-Porphyrinuria syndrome is the first to be mentioned in secondary hepatic disturbances of Porphyrin Metabolism. Acute hepatic porphyrias (acute intermittent porphyria, variegate porphyria and hereditary coproporphyria) are considered to be molecular regulatory diseases, in contrast to non-acute, chronic hepatic porphyria, clinically appearing as po rphyria cutanea tarda (PCT). Porphyrins do not accumulate in the liver in acute porphyrias, whereas in chronic hepatic porphyrias they do. Thus, chronic hepatic porphyria is a Porphyrin-accumulation disease, whereas acute hepatic porphyrias are haem-pathway-dysregulation diseases, characterized in general by induction of d-aminolevulinic acid synthase in the liver and excessive stimulation of the pathway without storage of Porphyrins in the liver. The clinical expression of acute hepatic porphyrias can be triggered by alcohol, because alcohol augments the inducibility of d-aminolevulinic acid synthase. In chronic hepatic porphyrias, however, which are already associated with liver damage, alcohol potentiates the disturbance of the decarboxylation of uro- and heptacarboxyPorphyrinogen, which is followed by a hepatic accumulation of uro- and heptacarboxyPorphyrin and their sometimes extreme urinary excretion. Especial ly in persons with a genetic deficiency of uroPorphyrinogen decarboxylase, but also in patients with the so-called sporadic variet y of PCT, alcohol is able to transform an asymptomatic coproPorphyrinuria into PCT. Alcohol has many biochemical and clinical effects on Porphyrin and haem synthesis both in humans and laboratory animals. Ethanol suppresses the activity of porphobilinogen synthase (synonym: d-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase), uroPorphyrinogen decarboxylase, coproPorphyrinogen oxidase and ferrochelatase, whereas it induces the first and rate-limiting enzyme in the pathway, d-aminolevulinic acid synthase and also porphobilinogen deaminase. Therefore, teetotalism is a therapeutically and prophylactically important measure in all types of hepatic porphyrias.

T Veidebaum - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • Porphyrin Metabolism in lymphocytes of miners exposed to diesel exhaust at oil shale mine.
    The Science of the total environment, 2004
    Co-Authors: V Muzyka, P T J Scheepers, S Bogovski, I Lang, N Schmidt, V Ryazanov, T Veidebaum
    Abstract:

    The present study was carried out on the evaluation and application of new biomarkers for populations exposed to occupational diesel exhaust at oil shale mines. Since not only genotoxic effects may play an important role in the generation of tumors, the level of Porphyrin Metabolism was proposed as a biomarker of diesel exhaust exposure effects. The data on determination of 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) synthesis and heme formation in lymphocytes from groups of 50 miners exposed to diesel exhaust and 50 unexposed surface workers of oil shale mine are presented. All workers were examined and interviewed using structured questionnaires. The levels of benzene, carbon monoxide and nitric oxides in air as well as concentrations of 1-nitropyrene and elemental carbon in particulate matter were used for evaluation of exposure to diesel exhaust in mine. The levels of ALA and protoPorphyrin (PP), activities of ALA synthetase (ALA-S) and ferrochelatase (FC), as well as levels of PP associated with DNA (PP/DNA) were investigated in lymphocytes spectrophotometrically. Significant differences in activity of ALA synthesis and heme formation between exposed miners and surface workers were found (207+/-23 vs. 166+/-14 pmol/10(6) lymp./30' for ALA-S and 46.1+/-3.8 vs. 54.8+/-4.1 pmol/10(6) lymp./60' for FC activities, respectively, P

  • Porphyrin Metabolism in lymphocytes of miners exposed to diesel exhaust at oil shale mine
    Science of The Total Environment, 2004
    Co-Authors: V Muzyka, P T J Scheepers, S Bogovski, I Lang, N Schmidt, V Ryazanov, T Veidebaum
    Abstract:

    The present study was carried out on the evaluation and application of new biomarkers for populations exposed to occupational diesel exhaust at oil shale mines. Since not only genotoxic effects may play an important role in the generation of tumors, the level of Porphyrin Metabolism was proposed as a biomarker of diesel exhaust exposure effects. The data on determination of 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) synthesis and heme formation in lymphocytes from groups of 50 miners exposed to diesel exhaust and 50 unexposed surface workers of oil shale mine are presented. All workers were examined and interviewed using structured questionnaires. The levels of benzene, carbon monoxide and nitric oxides in air as well as concentrations of 1-nitropyrene and elemental carbon in particulate matter were used for evaluation of exposure to diesel exhaust in mine. The levels of ALA and protoPorphyrin (PP), activities of ALA synthetase (ALA-S) and ferrochelatase (FC), as well as levels of PP associated with DNA (PP/DNA) were investigated in lymphocytes spectrophotometrically. Significant differences in activity of ALA synthesis and heme formation between exposed miners and surface workers were found (207±23 vs. 166±14 pmol/106 lymp./30′ for ALA-S and 46.1±3.8 vs. 54.8±4.1 pmol/106 lymp./60′ for FC activities, respectively, P<0.001). ALA-S activity was higher and ALA accumulated in lymphocytes of exposed miners. Inhibition of FC activity caused PP cellular accumulation and an increase in the PP/DNA level (P<0.05). Tobacco smoking led to the increase of ALA biosynthesis in lymphocytes of both surface and underground smokers. The comparison of data obtained for non-smokers and smokers of both groups of workers has shown a significant difference (P<0.05). The work duration of underground or surface workers did not significantly influence the investigated biochemical parameters. The determination of ALA synthesis in lymphocytes could be a useful biomonitoring index of organism sensitivity to underground working. The alterations of PP levels, FC activity and PP/DNA association in peripheral lymphocytes of miners illustrate the harmful effects of exposure to diesel exhaust.

V Muzyka - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • Porphyrin Metabolism in lymphocytes of miners exposed to diesel exhaust at oil shale mine.
    The Science of the total environment, 2004
    Co-Authors: V Muzyka, P T J Scheepers, S Bogovski, I Lang, N Schmidt, V Ryazanov, T Veidebaum
    Abstract:

    The present study was carried out on the evaluation and application of new biomarkers for populations exposed to occupational diesel exhaust at oil shale mines. Since not only genotoxic effects may play an important role in the generation of tumors, the level of Porphyrin Metabolism was proposed as a biomarker of diesel exhaust exposure effects. The data on determination of 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) synthesis and heme formation in lymphocytes from groups of 50 miners exposed to diesel exhaust and 50 unexposed surface workers of oil shale mine are presented. All workers were examined and interviewed using structured questionnaires. The levels of benzene, carbon monoxide and nitric oxides in air as well as concentrations of 1-nitropyrene and elemental carbon in particulate matter were used for evaluation of exposure to diesel exhaust in mine. The levels of ALA and protoPorphyrin (PP), activities of ALA synthetase (ALA-S) and ferrochelatase (FC), as well as levels of PP associated with DNA (PP/DNA) were investigated in lymphocytes spectrophotometrically. Significant differences in activity of ALA synthesis and heme formation between exposed miners and surface workers were found (207+/-23 vs. 166+/-14 pmol/10(6) lymp./30' for ALA-S and 46.1+/-3.8 vs. 54.8+/-4.1 pmol/10(6) lymp./60' for FC activities, respectively, P

  • Porphyrin Metabolism in lymphocytes of miners exposed to diesel exhaust at oil shale mine
    Science of The Total Environment, 2004
    Co-Authors: V Muzyka, P T J Scheepers, S Bogovski, I Lang, N Schmidt, V Ryazanov, T Veidebaum
    Abstract:

    The present study was carried out on the evaluation and application of new biomarkers for populations exposed to occupational diesel exhaust at oil shale mines. Since not only genotoxic effects may play an important role in the generation of tumors, the level of Porphyrin Metabolism was proposed as a biomarker of diesel exhaust exposure effects. The data on determination of 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) synthesis and heme formation in lymphocytes from groups of 50 miners exposed to diesel exhaust and 50 unexposed surface workers of oil shale mine are presented. All workers were examined and interviewed using structured questionnaires. The levels of benzene, carbon monoxide and nitric oxides in air as well as concentrations of 1-nitropyrene and elemental carbon in particulate matter were used for evaluation of exposure to diesel exhaust in mine. The levels of ALA and protoPorphyrin (PP), activities of ALA synthetase (ALA-S) and ferrochelatase (FC), as well as levels of PP associated with DNA (PP/DNA) were investigated in lymphocytes spectrophotometrically. Significant differences in activity of ALA synthesis and heme formation between exposed miners and surface workers were found (207±23 vs. 166±14 pmol/106 lymp./30′ for ALA-S and 46.1±3.8 vs. 54.8±4.1 pmol/106 lymp./60′ for FC activities, respectively, P<0.001). ALA-S activity was higher and ALA accumulated in lymphocytes of exposed miners. Inhibition of FC activity caused PP cellular accumulation and an increase in the PP/DNA level (P<0.05). Tobacco smoking led to the increase of ALA biosynthesis in lymphocytes of both surface and underground smokers. The comparison of data obtained for non-smokers and smokers of both groups of workers has shown a significant difference (P<0.05). The work duration of underground or surface workers did not significantly influence the investigated biochemical parameters. The determination of ALA synthesis in lymphocytes could be a useful biomonitoring index of organism sensitivity to underground working. The alterations of PP levels, FC activity and PP/DNA association in peripheral lymphocytes of miners illustrate the harmful effects of exposure to diesel exhaust.

  • effects of occupational exposure to diesel exhaust on Porphyrin Metabolism in lymphocytes of workers employed at black coal and oil shale mines
    American Journal of Industrial Medicine, 2003
    Co-Authors: V Muzyka, P T J Scheepers, S Bogovski, Jaroslav Volf, Jaromira Kusova
    Abstract:

    Background This pilot study was conducted to investigate biochemical effects of exposure to diesel engine exhaust at two mines. For this purpose, heme biosynthesis, and PP association with DNA (PP/DNA) in lymphocytes of miners exposed to diesel exhaust were determined. Methods The pilot study was carried out at a black coal mine in Czech Republic, and at an oil-shale mine in Estonia. The subjects were ten drivers from each mine, who were exposed to diesel exhaust (underground workers). Control groups consisted of ten maintenance workers from each mine (surface workers). The content of 1-nitropyrene (NP) in respirable dust was measured using GC-MS. The levels of PP, PP/DNA, heme, and activity of ferrochelatase (FC) were determined by spectrophotometry. Results The exposure to diesel exhaust evaluated as the level of NP associated to particulate matter in air. NP level was significantly higher in oil-shale mine compared with coal mine. The values of PP and PP/DNA in lymphocytes appeared to be significantly increased only in miners in the oil-shale mine. There was no difference in the levels of PP and PP/DNA and FC activity between surface workers and miners at the coal mine. The level of heme in lymphocytes of coal mine miners was significantly higher than in miners of the oil-shale mine. The activity of FC was significantly lower in underground workers compared to surface workers at this mine. High level of NP was accompanied by an increase of alterations in cells Porphyrin Metabolism in lymphocytes of miners. Conclusions Alterations of Porphyrin and heme Metabolism in peripheral lymphocytes may serve as biomarker in assessment of exposure to diesel exhaust effects. Am. J. Ind. Med. 44:70–74, 2003. © 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

  • Effects of occupational exposure to diesel exhaust on Porphyrin Metabolism in lymphocytes of workers employed at black coal and oil‐shale mines
    American Journal of Industrial Medicine, 2003
    Co-Authors: V Muzyka, P T J Scheepers, S Bogovski, Jaroslav Volf, Jaromira Kusova
    Abstract:

    Background This pilot study was conducted to investigate biochemical effects of exposure to diesel engine exhaust at two mines. For this purpose, heme biosynthesis, and PP association with DNA (PP/DNA) in lymphocytes of miners exposed to diesel exhaust were determined. Methods The pilot study was carried out at a black coal mine in Czech Republic, and at an oil-shale mine in Estonia. The subjects were ten drivers from each mine, who were exposed to diesel exhaust (underground workers). Control groups consisted of ten maintenance workers from each mine (surface workers). The content of 1-nitropyrene (NP) in respirable dust was measured using GC-MS. The levels of PP, PP/DNA, heme, and activity of ferrochelatase (FC) were determined by spectrophotometry. Results The exposure to diesel exhaust evaluated as the level of NP associated to particulate matter in air. NP level was significantly higher in oil-shale mine compared with coal mine. The values of PP and PP/DNA in lymphocytes appeared to be significantly increased only in miners in the oil-shale mine. There was no difference in the levels of PP and PP/DNA and FC activity between surface workers and miners at the coal mine. The level of heme in lymphocytes of coal mine miners was significantly higher than in miners of the oil-shale mine. The activity of FC was significantly lower in underground workers compared to surface workers at this mine. High level of NP was accompanied by an increase of alterations in cells Porphyrin Metabolism in lymphocytes of miners. Conclusions Alterations of Porphyrin and heme Metabolism in peripheral lymphocytes may serve as biomarker in assessment of exposure to diesel exhaust effects. Am. J. Ind. Med. 44:70–74, 2003. © 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

M. Doss - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • alcohol and Porphyrin Metabolism
    Alcohol and Alcoholism, 2000
    Co-Authors: M. Doss, Alexandra Kuhnel, Ulrich Gross
    Abstract:

    “Ethanol should be included in the list of drugs metabolized by hepatic microsomes” (Rubin and Lieber 1972). Such drugs stimulate their own Metabolism, in which heme synthesis is involved, and affect Porphyrin synthesis in various ways. Alteration of Porphyrin synthesis in an organism without hereditary and acquired toxic disturbances of Porphyrin Metabolism is an adaptive response. Generally, these adaptive responses elicited by alcohol or other drugs in an organism without preexistent derangements in the heme biosynthesis sequences do not lead to clinical consequences. However, certain drugs, including alcohol, are capable of expressing not only the latent but also the clinical phase of different porphyrias. Especially acute hepatic porphyrias are triggered by drugs and/or alcohol and have therefore been designated as “pharmacogenetic diseases” (Kalow 1962). In addition, alcohol is the most frequent manifesting and aggravating factor in chronic hepatic porphyria, including porphyria cutanea tarda, which is genetically predetermined in some of the patients (Doss 1982; Kushner 1982). The clinical-biochemical interactions between alcohol and Porphyrin/heme biosynthesis involve three main aspects: 1. Triggering the biochemical and clinical manifestation of acute and chronic hepatic porphyrias. 2. Development of symptomatic disturbances in Porphyrin Metabolism as secondary coproPorphyrinuria and secondary protoPorphyrinemia. 3. Inhibition and stimulation of certain enzymes in the heme biosynthetic chain.

  • INVITED REVIEW ALCOHOL AND Porphyrin Metabolism
    2000
    Co-Authors: M. Doss, Alexandra Kuhnel, Ulrich Gross
    Abstract:

    Alcohol is a Porphyrinogenic agent which may cause disturbances in Porphyrin Metabolism in healthy persons as well as biochemical and clinical manifestations of acute and chronic hepatic porphyrias. After excessive consumption of alcohol, a temporary, clinically asymptomatic secondary hepatic coproPorphyrinuria is observable, which can become persistent in cases of alcohol-induced liver damage. Nowadays, the alcohol-liver-Porphyrinuria syndrome is the first to be mentioned in secondary hepatic disturbances of Porphyrin Metabolism. Acute hepatic porphyrias (acute intermittent porphyria, variegate porphyria and hereditary coproporphyria) are considered to be molecular regulatory diseases, in contrast to non-acute, chronic hepatic porphyria, clinically appearing as po rphyria cutanea tarda (PCT). Porphyrins do not accumulate in the liver in acute porphyrias, whereas in chronic hepatic porphyrias they do. Thus, chronic hepatic porphyria is a Porphyrin-accumulation disease, whereas acute hepatic porphyrias are haem-pathway-dysregulation diseases, characterized in general by induction of d-aminolevulinic acid synthase in the liver and excessive stimulation of the pathway without storage of Porphyrins in the liver. The clinical expression of acute hepatic porphyrias can be triggered by alcohol, because alcohol augments the inducibility of d-aminolevulinic acid synthase. In chronic hepatic porphyrias, however, which are already associated with liver damage, alcohol potentiates the disturbance of the decarboxylation of uro- and heptacarboxyPorphyrinogen, which is followed by a hepatic accumulation of uro- and heptacarboxyPorphyrin and their sometimes extreme urinary excretion. Especial ly in persons with a genetic deficiency of uroPorphyrinogen decarboxylase, but also in patients with the so-called sporadic variet y of PCT, alcohol is able to transform an asymptomatic coproPorphyrinuria into PCT. Alcohol has many biochemical and clinical effects on Porphyrin and haem synthesis both in humans and laboratory animals. Ethanol suppresses the activity of porphobilinogen synthase (synonym: d-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase), uroPorphyrinogen decarboxylase, coproPorphyrinogen oxidase and ferrochelatase, whereas it induces the first and rate-limiting enzyme in the pathway, d-aminolevulinic acid synthase and also porphobilinogen deaminase. Therefore, teetotalism is a therapeutically and prophylactically important measure in all types of hepatic porphyrias.

S Bogovski - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • Porphyrin Metabolism in lymphocytes of miners exposed to diesel exhaust at oil shale mine.
    The Science of the total environment, 2004
    Co-Authors: V Muzyka, P T J Scheepers, S Bogovski, I Lang, N Schmidt, V Ryazanov, T Veidebaum
    Abstract:

    The present study was carried out on the evaluation and application of new biomarkers for populations exposed to occupational diesel exhaust at oil shale mines. Since not only genotoxic effects may play an important role in the generation of tumors, the level of Porphyrin Metabolism was proposed as a biomarker of diesel exhaust exposure effects. The data on determination of 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) synthesis and heme formation in lymphocytes from groups of 50 miners exposed to diesel exhaust and 50 unexposed surface workers of oil shale mine are presented. All workers were examined and interviewed using structured questionnaires. The levels of benzene, carbon monoxide and nitric oxides in air as well as concentrations of 1-nitropyrene and elemental carbon in particulate matter were used for evaluation of exposure to diesel exhaust in mine. The levels of ALA and protoPorphyrin (PP), activities of ALA synthetase (ALA-S) and ferrochelatase (FC), as well as levels of PP associated with DNA (PP/DNA) were investigated in lymphocytes spectrophotometrically. Significant differences in activity of ALA synthesis and heme formation between exposed miners and surface workers were found (207+/-23 vs. 166+/-14 pmol/10(6) lymp./30' for ALA-S and 46.1+/-3.8 vs. 54.8+/-4.1 pmol/10(6) lymp./60' for FC activities, respectively, P

  • Porphyrin Metabolism in lymphocytes of miners exposed to diesel exhaust at oil shale mine
    Science of The Total Environment, 2004
    Co-Authors: V Muzyka, P T J Scheepers, S Bogovski, I Lang, N Schmidt, V Ryazanov, T Veidebaum
    Abstract:

    The present study was carried out on the evaluation and application of new biomarkers for populations exposed to occupational diesel exhaust at oil shale mines. Since not only genotoxic effects may play an important role in the generation of tumors, the level of Porphyrin Metabolism was proposed as a biomarker of diesel exhaust exposure effects. The data on determination of 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) synthesis and heme formation in lymphocytes from groups of 50 miners exposed to diesel exhaust and 50 unexposed surface workers of oil shale mine are presented. All workers were examined and interviewed using structured questionnaires. The levels of benzene, carbon monoxide and nitric oxides in air as well as concentrations of 1-nitropyrene and elemental carbon in particulate matter were used for evaluation of exposure to diesel exhaust in mine. The levels of ALA and protoPorphyrin (PP), activities of ALA synthetase (ALA-S) and ferrochelatase (FC), as well as levels of PP associated with DNA (PP/DNA) were investigated in lymphocytes spectrophotometrically. Significant differences in activity of ALA synthesis and heme formation between exposed miners and surface workers were found (207±23 vs. 166±14 pmol/106 lymp./30′ for ALA-S and 46.1±3.8 vs. 54.8±4.1 pmol/106 lymp./60′ for FC activities, respectively, P<0.001). ALA-S activity was higher and ALA accumulated in lymphocytes of exposed miners. Inhibition of FC activity caused PP cellular accumulation and an increase in the PP/DNA level (P<0.05). Tobacco smoking led to the increase of ALA biosynthesis in lymphocytes of both surface and underground smokers. The comparison of data obtained for non-smokers and smokers of both groups of workers has shown a significant difference (P<0.05). The work duration of underground or surface workers did not significantly influence the investigated biochemical parameters. The determination of ALA synthesis in lymphocytes could be a useful biomonitoring index of organism sensitivity to underground working. The alterations of PP levels, FC activity and PP/DNA association in peripheral lymphocytes of miners illustrate the harmful effects of exposure to diesel exhaust.

  • effects of occupational exposure to diesel exhaust on Porphyrin Metabolism in lymphocytes of workers employed at black coal and oil shale mines
    American Journal of Industrial Medicine, 2003
    Co-Authors: V Muzyka, P T J Scheepers, S Bogovski, Jaroslav Volf, Jaromira Kusova
    Abstract:

    Background This pilot study was conducted to investigate biochemical effects of exposure to diesel engine exhaust at two mines. For this purpose, heme biosynthesis, and PP association with DNA (PP/DNA) in lymphocytes of miners exposed to diesel exhaust were determined. Methods The pilot study was carried out at a black coal mine in Czech Republic, and at an oil-shale mine in Estonia. The subjects were ten drivers from each mine, who were exposed to diesel exhaust (underground workers). Control groups consisted of ten maintenance workers from each mine (surface workers). The content of 1-nitropyrene (NP) in respirable dust was measured using GC-MS. The levels of PP, PP/DNA, heme, and activity of ferrochelatase (FC) were determined by spectrophotometry. Results The exposure to diesel exhaust evaluated as the level of NP associated to particulate matter in air. NP level was significantly higher in oil-shale mine compared with coal mine. The values of PP and PP/DNA in lymphocytes appeared to be significantly increased only in miners in the oil-shale mine. There was no difference in the levels of PP and PP/DNA and FC activity between surface workers and miners at the coal mine. The level of heme in lymphocytes of coal mine miners was significantly higher than in miners of the oil-shale mine. The activity of FC was significantly lower in underground workers compared to surface workers at this mine. High level of NP was accompanied by an increase of alterations in cells Porphyrin Metabolism in lymphocytes of miners. Conclusions Alterations of Porphyrin and heme Metabolism in peripheral lymphocytes may serve as biomarker in assessment of exposure to diesel exhaust effects. Am. J. Ind. Med. 44:70–74, 2003. © 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

  • Effects of occupational exposure to diesel exhaust on Porphyrin Metabolism in lymphocytes of workers employed at black coal and oil‐shale mines
    American Journal of Industrial Medicine, 2003
    Co-Authors: V Muzyka, P T J Scheepers, S Bogovski, Jaroslav Volf, Jaromira Kusova
    Abstract:

    Background This pilot study was conducted to investigate biochemical effects of exposure to diesel engine exhaust at two mines. For this purpose, heme biosynthesis, and PP association with DNA (PP/DNA) in lymphocytes of miners exposed to diesel exhaust were determined. Methods The pilot study was carried out at a black coal mine in Czech Republic, and at an oil-shale mine in Estonia. The subjects were ten drivers from each mine, who were exposed to diesel exhaust (underground workers). Control groups consisted of ten maintenance workers from each mine (surface workers). The content of 1-nitropyrene (NP) in respirable dust was measured using GC-MS. The levels of PP, PP/DNA, heme, and activity of ferrochelatase (FC) were determined by spectrophotometry. Results The exposure to diesel exhaust evaluated as the level of NP associated to particulate matter in air. NP level was significantly higher in oil-shale mine compared with coal mine. The values of PP and PP/DNA in lymphocytes appeared to be significantly increased only in miners in the oil-shale mine. There was no difference in the levels of PP and PP/DNA and FC activity between surface workers and miners at the coal mine. The level of heme in lymphocytes of coal mine miners was significantly higher than in miners of the oil-shale mine. The activity of FC was significantly lower in underground workers compared to surface workers at this mine. High level of NP was accompanied by an increase of alterations in cells Porphyrin Metabolism in lymphocytes of miners. Conclusions Alterations of Porphyrin and heme Metabolism in peripheral lymphocytes may serve as biomarker in assessment of exposure to diesel exhaust effects. Am. J. Ind. Med. 44:70–74, 2003. © 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc.