Cancer-related changes and low-to-moderate exposure to welding fumes : A longitudinal study
Dauter, Ulrike Maria ; Alhamdow, Ayman LU ; Cediel-Ulloa, Andrea ; Gliga, Anda Roxana LU ; Albin, Maria LU and Broberg, Karin LU
(2022)
In Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment and Health
48(1).
p.21-30
- Abstract
This study tested for an association between early cancer-related biomarkers and low-to-moderate exposure to fumes from welding mild steel. Methods Male, non-smoking participants from southern Sweden were recruited and examined (N=338, 171 welders and 167 controls); of these, 78 welders and 96 controls were examined on two occasions six years apart. Exposure to welding fumes was evaluated by measuring respirable dust, welding years, and cumulative exposure. DNA methylation of CpG sites within the cancer-related genes AHRR, F2RL3, and B3GNTL1 was measured by pyrosequencing and relative mitochondrial DNA copy number and telomere length were measured by qPCR in whole-blood samples. Multivariate models were used for longitudinal analysis.... (More)
This study tested for an association between early cancer-related biomarkers and low-to-moderate exposure to fumes from welding mild steel. Methods Male, non-smoking participants from southern Sweden were recruited and examined (N=338, 171 welders and 167 controls); of these, 78 welders and 96 controls were examined on two occasions six years apart. Exposure to welding fumes was evaluated by measuring respirable dust, welding years, and cumulative exposure. DNA methylation of CpG sites within the cancer-related genes AHRR, F2RL3, and B3GNTL1 was measured by pyrosequencing and relative mitochondrial DNA copy number and telomere length were measured by qPCR in whole-blood samples. Multivariate models were used for longitudinal analysis. Results Median exposure to respirable dust was 0.7 mg/m3 at both timepoints, adjusted for use of personal protective equipment. Compared with controls, welders showed a significant decrease over time in DNA methylation of B3GNTL1 CpG1 and CpG4 [adjusted for age, body mass index, and smoking: β=-0.66, standard error (SE)=0.28; β=-0.48, SE=0.24, respectively]. In addition, exposure to respirable dust and cumulative exposure was associated with a decrease in methylation of F2RL3 CpG2 among all welders (adjusted β=-0.67, SE=0.23 and β=-0.03, SE=0.02, respectively). No significant associations were found for AHRR, mitochondrial DNA copy number, or telomere length. Conclusion Low-to-moderate exposure to welding fumes was associated with a small effect on selected early epigenetic biomarkers of cancer. The direction of the methylation pattern (lower methylation of specific CpG sites) indicates early lung cancer-related changes associated with mild steel welding.
(Less)
- author
- Dauter, Ulrike Maria
; Alhamdow, Ayman
LU
; Cediel-Ulloa, Andrea
; Gliga, Anda Roxana
LU
; Albin, Maria
LU
and Broberg, Karin
LU
- organization
- publishing date
- 2022-01
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- B3GNTL1, DNA Methylation, F2RL3, Key terms AHRR, lung cancer, mitochondrial DNA, occupational exposure, respirable dust, telomere length
- in
- Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment and Health
- volume
- 48
- issue
- 1
- pages
- 10 pages
- publisher
- Finnish Institute of Occupational Health
- external identifiers
-
- scopus:85123228065
- pmid:34570895
- ISSN
- 0355-3140
- DOI
- 10.5271/sjweh.3988
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- 747f5911-c15c-4a74-af29-b7b98540a338
- date added to LUP
- 2023-01-03 16:10:48
- date last changed
- 2024-06-27 17:47:04
@article{747f5911-c15c-4a74-af29-b7b98540a338,
abstract = {{<p>This study tested for an association between early cancer-related biomarkers and low-to-moderate exposure to fumes from welding mild steel. Methods Male, non-smoking participants from southern Sweden were recruited and examined (N=338, 171 welders and 167 controls); of these, 78 welders and 96 controls were examined on two occasions six years apart. Exposure to welding fumes was evaluated by measuring respirable dust, welding years, and cumulative exposure. DNA methylation of CpG sites within the cancer-related genes AHRR, F2RL3, and B3GNTL1 was measured by pyrosequencing and relative mitochondrial DNA copy number and telomere length were measured by qPCR in whole-blood samples. Multivariate models were used for longitudinal analysis. Results Median exposure to respirable dust was 0.7 mg/m<sup>3</sup> at both timepoints, adjusted for use of personal protective equipment. Compared with controls, welders showed a significant decrease over time in DNA methylation of B3GNTL1 CpG1 and CpG4 [adjusted for age, body mass index, and smoking: β=-0.66, standard error (SE)=0.28; β=-0.48, SE=0.24, respectively]. In addition, exposure to respirable dust and cumulative exposure was associated with a decrease in methylation of F2RL3 CpG2 among all welders (adjusted β=-0.67, SE=0.23 and β=-0.03, SE=0.02, respectively). No significant associations were found for AHRR, mitochondrial DNA copy number, or telomere length. Conclusion Low-to-moderate exposure to welding fumes was associated with a small effect on selected early epigenetic biomarkers of cancer. The direction of the methylation pattern (lower methylation of specific CpG sites) indicates early lung cancer-related changes associated with mild steel welding.</p>}},
author = {{Dauter, Ulrike Maria and Alhamdow, Ayman and Cediel-Ulloa, Andrea and Gliga, Anda Roxana and Albin, Maria and Broberg, Karin}},
issn = {{0355-3140}},
keywords = {{B3GNTL1; DNA Methylation; F2RL3; Key terms AHRR; lung cancer; mitochondrial DNA; occupational exposure; respirable dust; telomere length}},
language = {{eng}},
number = {{1}},
pages = {{21--30}},
publisher = {{Finnish Institute of Occupational Health}},
series = {{Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment and Health}},
title = {{Cancer-related changes and low-to-moderate exposure to welding fumes : A longitudinal study}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.5271/sjweh.3988}},
doi = {{10.5271/sjweh.3988}},
volume = {{48}},
year = {{2022}},
}