Objective To explore DNA damage of peripheral lymphocyte of wokers exposed to nickel in a stainless steel refining factory.
Methods Occupational hazardous factors in a stainless steel factory were monitored, a total of 165 nickel exposed workers were recruited, including 60 steel refining workers, 65 slaggers and 40 millmen. In addition, 67 workers in water treatment department not exposured to nickel were selected and matched with those exposed workers by age and cigarette smoking. Comet assay was conducted for DNA damage of lymphocyte isolated from peripheral blood samples of all participating subjects.
Results The comet assay indicated that the exposed workers had greater DNA damage reflected by tail inertia, tail length and olive tail moment (OTM) all different from control subjects (P < 0.01). Tail inertia of the steel refining workers (23.33& #177;7.10) and of the slaggers (22.87& #177;10.67)were obviously higher than the contro(l 10.53& #177;5.08) (P < 0.01). Tail inertia of the millmen (21.67& #177;9.32) was also higher than the control (P < 0.05). Tail length of the steel refining workers (1.20& #177;0.21), of the slaggers (1.18& #177;0.22) and of the millmen (1.14& #177;0.24) were obviously higher than the control (0.91& #177;0.19) too. The OTM of the steel refining workers (0.495& #177;0.055), of the slaggers (0.455& #177;0.045) and of the millmen (0.429& #177;0.069) were all significantly higher than the control (P < 0.01). Significant differences were showed in the OTM values between non-smoking and smoking workers. Correlation analysis showed that there was a significant positive correlation between the urine concentration of nickel and the OTM (r=0.576, P < 0.001).
Conclusion DNA strand break in lymphocytes should be an earlier impairment of occupational nickel-exposed population. Comet assay may be used for early monitoring of occupational nickel-exposed population.
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