cluster analysis; exposure groups; genotoxicity tests; occupational exposure data; occupational magnetic field exposure; Humans; Male; Adult; Middle Aged; Female; Magnetic Fields/adverse effects; Electromagnetic Fields/adverse effects; Lymphocytes/radiation effects; Comet Assay; Cytogenetic Analysis; DNA Damage; Occupational Exposure/adverse effects; Occupational Exposure/analysis; Biological Monitoring; Micronucleus Tests; Exposure data; Field exposure; Genotoxicities; Genotoxicity test; Magnetic-field; Occupational exposure; Workers'; Electromagnetic Fields; Lymphocytes; Magnetic Fields; Biophysics; Physiology; Radiology, Nuclear Medicine and Imaging
Abstract :
[en] Human cytogenetic biomonitoring (HCB) has long been used to evaluate the potential effects of work environments on the DNA integrity of workers. However, HCB studies on the genotoxic effects of occupational exposure to extremely low-frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF-MFs) were limited by the quality of the exposure assessment. More specifically, concerns were raised regarding the method of exposure assessment, the selection of exposure metrics, and the definition of exposure group. In this study, genotoxic effects of occupational exposure to ELF-MFs were assessed on peripheral blood lymphocytes of 88 workers from the electrical sector using the comet and cytokinesis-block micronucleus assay, considering workers' actual exposure over three consecutive days. Different methods were applied to define exposure groups. Overall, the summarized ELF-MF data indicated a low exposure level in the whole study population. It also showed that relying solely on job titles might misclassify 12 workers into exposure groups. We proposed combining hierarchical agglomerative clustering on personal exposure data and job titles to define exposure groups. The final results showed that occupational MF exposure did not significantly induce more genetic damage. Other factors such as age or past smoking rather than ELF-MF exposure could affect the cytogenetic test outcomes.
Disciplines :
Laboratory medicine & medical technology
Author, co-author :
Nguyen, Ha ; Laboratoire de Recherche en Orthopédie Traumatologie, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium ; Chemical and Physical Health Risks, Sciensano, Brussels, Belgium
Vandewalle, Giovani; External Occupational Health Service for Prevention and Protection at Work, Mensura, Brussels, Belgium
Mertens, Birgit; Chemical and Physical Health Risks, Sciensano, Brussels, Belgium
Collard, Jean-Francois ; Laboratoire de Recherche en Orthopédie Traumatologie, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
Hinsenkamp, Maurice; Laboratoire de Recherche en Orthopédie Traumatologie, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
Verschaeve, Luc; Chemical and Physical Health Risks, Sciensano, Brussels, Belgium
Feipel, Veronique; Laboratoire de Recherche en Orthopédie Traumatologie, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
Magne, Isabelle; Service des Études Médicales, EDF, Paris, France
Souques, Martine ; Service des Études Médicales, EDF, Paris, France
Beauvois, Véronique ; Université de Liège - ULiège > Département d'électricité, électronique et informatique (Institut Montefiore) > Applied and Computational Electromagnetics (ACE)
Ledent, Maryse ; Chemical and Physical Health Risks, Sciensano, Brussels, Belgium
Language :
English
Title :
Exposure assessment and cytogenetic biomonitoring study of workers occupationally exposed to extremely low-frequency magnetic fields.
Alternative titles :
[fr] Évaluation de l’exposition et étude de biomonitoring cytogénétique chez des travailleurs exposés professionnellement à des champs magnétiques de très basse fréquence.
This study is part of the BBEMG (Belgian Bioelectromagnetics Group) project, which investigates the health effects of 50 Hz electric fields and magnetic fields exposure. The BBEMG is partly supported by ELIA TSO, under a contract of scientific independence. We warmly thank Philippe Collard (BIOPS, ULB) for his statistical advice.
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