Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Monitoring genotoxicity among gasoline station attendants and traffic enforcers in the City of Manila using the micronucleus assay with exfoliated epithelial cells

  • Published:
Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Some types of occupations involve high levels of exposure to potentially genotoxic gaseous and particulate substances from internal combustion engines used in motor vehicles. These occupational exposures may contribute to the development of many illnesses, usually through chromosomal change mechanisms that include strand breakage, deletions, sister chromatid exchange and non-disjunction. To determine the effect of occupational exposure in gasoline station attendants and traffic enforcers, the micronucleus test was used. Exfoliated oral mucosa cells from 18 gasoline station attendants, 18 traffic enforcers and 18 control subjects in the City of Manila were examined for micronucleated cell (MNC) frequency. Analysis of buccal cells showed that MNC frequencies in exposed individuals were significantly greater than in control subjects (p ≤ 0.05). However, between gasoline station attendants and traffic enforcers, MNC frequencies of the two exposed groups exhibited no significant difference. No relation was also found between MNC frequency and any of the factors such as age, smoking habits, alcohol habits and working period. This was further confirmed in the multiple regression analysis which showed that only occupational exposure was a good predictor of MNC frequency. The results of this study suggest that gasoline station attendants and traffic enforcers, compared to the control individuals, are at a greater risk of chromosomal damage. For the assessment of chromosomal damage, the study, development, and standardization of tests are recommended for public institutions concerned with matters regarding environmental quality and community health.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Anderson, D. (1999). Factors contributing to biomarker responses in exposed workers. Mutation Research, 428, 197–202.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Belien, J. A. M., Copper, M. P., Braakhuis, B. J. M., Snow, G. B., & Baak, J. P. A. (1995). Standardization of counting micronuclei: definition of a protocol to measure genotoxic damage in human exfoliated cells. Carcinogenesis, 16, 2395–2400.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Benites, C. I., Amado, L. L., Vianna, R. A. P., & Martino-Roth, M. (2006). Micronucleus test on gas station attendants. Genetic & Molecular Research, 5, 45–54.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bishop, J. B., Witt, K. L., & Sloane, R. A. (1997). Genetic toxicities of human teratogens. Mutation Research, 396, 9–43.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bolognesi, C., Merlo, F., Rabboni, R., Valerio, F., & Abbondandolo, A. (1997). Cytogenetic biomonitoring in traffic police workers: Micronucleus test in peripheral blood lymphocytes. Environmental Molecular Mutagenesis, 30, 396–402.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Burgaz, S., Demircigil, G. C., Karahalil, B., & Karakaya, A. E. (2002). Chromosomal damage in peripheral blood lymphocytes of traffic policemen and taxi drivers exposed to urban air pollution. Chemosphere, 47, 57–64.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Burgaz, S., Iscan, A., Büyükbingöl, Z. K., Bozkurt, A., & Karakaya, A. E. (1995). Evaluation of micronuclei in exfoliated urothelial cells and urinary thioether excretion of smokers. Mutation Research, 335, 163–169.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Calvert, G. M., Talaska, G., & Mueller, C. A. (1998). Genotoxicity in workers exposed to methyl bromide. Mutation Research, 417, 115–128.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chandrasekaran, R., Samy, P. L. P., & Murthy, P. B. K. (1996). Increased sister chromatid exchange (SCE) frequencies in lymphocytes from traffic policemen exposed to automobile exhaust pollution. Human Experimental Toxicology, 15, 301–304.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Conde, C. H. (2005). ‘Supermayor’ uses firm hand to clean up Manila. International Herald Tribune Asia-Pacific, Mar 21, 2005.

  • Crebelli, R., Tomei, F., Zijno, A., Ghittori, S., Imbriani, M., Gamberale, D., et al. (2001). Exposure to benzene in urban workers: Environmental and biological monitoring of traffic police in Rome. Occupational Environmental Medicine, 58, 165–171.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • De la Cruz, D., Siador Jr., C., Peralta, T., Aguilar, P., Barlis, E., Del Socorro, J., et al. (2004). National air quality status report (2003–2004). Environmental Management Bureau—Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Philippines.

    Google Scholar 

  • Forni, A. (1994). Comparison of chromosome aberrations and micronuclei in testing genotoxicity in humans. Toxicological Letters, 72, 185–190.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fredga, K., Reitalau, J., & Berlin, M. (1979). Chromosome studies in workers exposed to benzene. In K. Berg (Ed.), Genetic damage in man caused by environmental agents (pp. 187–203). New York: Academic.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hadnagy, W., & Seemayer, N. H. (1998). Cytotoxic and genotoxic effects of extract of particulate emission from a gasoline-powered engine. Environmental & Molecular Mutagenesis, 12, 385–396.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • IARC (1989a). IARC monographs on the evaluation of carcinogenic risks to humans, Vol. 45. Occupational Exposures in Petroleum Refining: Crude Oil and Major Petroleum Fuels, Lyon.

  • IARC (1989b). IARC monographs on the evaluation of carcinogenic risks to humans, Vol. 46. Diesel and Gasoline Engine Exhausts and Some Nitroarenes, Lyon.

  • Karahalil, B., Burgaz, S., Fisek, G., & Karakaya, A. E. (1998). Biological monitoring of young workers exposed to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in engine repair workshops. Mutation Research, 412, 261–269.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Maluf, S. W., & Erdtmann, B. (2000). Evaluation of occupational risk in a Brazilian hospital. Genetics & Molecular Biology, 23, 485–488.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Martino-Roth, M. G., Viegas, J., Amaral, M., Oliveira, L., Ferreira, F. L. S., & Erdtmann, B. (2002). Evaluation of genotoxicity through micronuclei test in workers of car and battery repair garages. Genetics & Molecular Biology, 25, 495–500.

    Google Scholar 

  • Martino-Roth, M. G., Viegas, J., & Roth, D. M. (2003). Occupational genotoxicity risk evaluation through the comet assay and the micronucleus test. Genetics & Molecular Research, 2, 410–417.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Nersesyan, A. K., Vardazaryan, N. S., Gevorgyan, A. L., & Arutyunyan, R. M. (2002). Micronucleus level in exfoliated buccal mucosa cells of cancer patients. Archives of Oncology, 10, 35–36.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Okuyemi, K. S., Ahluwalia, J. S., Richter, K. P., Mayo, M. S., & Resnicow, K. (2001). Differences among African American light, moderate and heavy smokers. Nicotine Tobacco Research, 3, 45–50.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ray, M. R., Basu, C., Mukherjee, S., Roychowdhury, S., & Lahiri, T. (2005). Micronucleus frequencies and nuclear anomalies in exfoliated buccal epithelial cells of firefighters. International Journal of Human Genetics, 5, 45–48.

    Google Scholar 

  • Santos-Mello, R., & Cavalcante, B. (1992). Cytogenetic studies on gas station attendants. Mutation Research, 280, 285–290.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Santos-Mello, R., & Silva, J. M. G. C. (1996). Chromosomal aberrations in lymphocytes from car painters. Mutation Research, 368, 21–26.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sarto, F., Finotto, S., Giacomelli, L., Mazzotti, D., Tomanin, R., & Levis, A. G. (1987). The micronucleus assay in exfoliated cells of the human buccal mucosa. Mutagen, 2, 11–17.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sram, R. J., & Binkova, B. (2000). Molecular epidemiology studies on occupational and environmental exposure to mutagens and carcinogens, 1997–1999. Environmental Health Perspectives, 108(Suppl 1), 57–70.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Stich, H. F., Stich, W., & Parida, B. B. (1982). Elevated frequency of micronucleated cells in the buccal mucosa of individuals at high risk for oral cancer: Betel quid chewers. Cancer Letters, 17, 125–134.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tolbert, P. E., Shy, C. M., & Allen, J. W. (1991). Micronucleus and other nuclear anomalies in buccal smears: A field test in snuff users. American Journal of Epidemiology, 134, 840–850.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tolbert, P. E., Shy, C. M., & Allen, J. W. (1992). Micronucleus and other nuclear anomalies in buccal smears: Methods development. Mutation Research, 271, 69–77.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Torres, E. B., Subida, R. D., Gapas, J. L., Sarol, J. N., Villarin, J. T., Vinluan, R. J. N., et al. (2004). Public health monitoring of the Metro Manila air quality improvement sector development program. Department of Health, Philippines.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhao, X., Niu, J., Wang, Y., Yan, C., Wang, X., & Wang, J. (1998). Genotoxicity and chronic health effects of automobile exhaust: A study on the traffic policemen in the city of Lanzhou. Mutation Research, 415, 185–90.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zinjo, A., Leopardi, P., Marcon, F., & Crebelli, R. (1996). Sex chromosome loss and non-disjuction in women: Analysis of chromosomal segregation in binucleated lymphocytes. Chromosoma, 104, 461–467.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, College of Arts and Sciences, University of the Philippines Manila, Padre Faura Street, Ermita, Manila, Philippines

    A. V. Hallare, M. K. R. Gervasio, P. L. G. Gervasio & P. J. B. Acacio-Claro

Authors
  1. A. V. Hallare
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. M. K. R. Gervasio
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. P. L. G. Gervasio
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. P. J. B. Acacio-Claro
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to A. V. Hallare.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Hallare, A.V., Gervasio, M.K.R., Gervasio, P.L.G. et al. Monitoring genotoxicity among gasoline station attendants and traffic enforcers in the City of Manila using the micronucleus assay with exfoliated epithelial cells. Environ Monit Assess 156, 331–341 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-008-0488-y

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-008-0488-y

Keywords

Search

Navigation