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Oxidative damage, genetic and epigenetic alterations in hexavalent chromium exposed workers - A cross-sectional study within the SafeChrom project

Jiang, Zheshun LU orcid ; Runkel, Agneta LU orcid ; Lindh, Christian LU orcid ; Kukka, Aimonen ; Catalán, Julia ; Pineda, Daniela LU orcid ; Lundh, Thomas LU ; Vogel, Ulla ; Saber, Anne T and Tondel, Martin , et al. (2025) In Environmental Research p.122123-122123
Abstract

BACKGROUND: Hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) is a lung cancer carcinogen. However, the genotoxic and mutagenic effects of Cr(VI) in humans at low-to-moderate occupational exposure levels are unknown. This study aims to investigate the relationship between occupational exposure to Cr(VI) and the presence of oxidative damage, genetic and epigenetic alterations.

METHODS: We included 113 Cr(VI) exposed workers in 14 companies and 72 controls recruited within the SafeChrom project. Cr(VI) was measured in inhalable dust and total chromium in urine (U-Cr) and red blood cells (RBC-Cr). Analysed effect biomarkers included urinary 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), micronuclei in peripheral blood reticulocytes (MNRET), blood relative... (More)

BACKGROUND: Hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) is a lung cancer carcinogen. However, the genotoxic and mutagenic effects of Cr(VI) in humans at low-to-moderate occupational exposure levels are unknown. This study aims to investigate the relationship between occupational exposure to Cr(VI) and the presence of oxidative damage, genetic and epigenetic alterations.

METHODS: We included 113 Cr(VI) exposed workers in 14 companies and 72 controls recruited within the SafeChrom project. Cr(VI) was measured in inhalable dust and total chromium in urine (U-Cr) and red blood cells (RBC-Cr). Analysed effect biomarkers included urinary 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), micronuclei in peripheral blood reticulocytes (MNRET), blood relative mitochondrial DNA copy number (mtDNA-cn), relative telomere length (TL), and blood DNA methylation of four lung cancer-related genes (F2RL3, LINE-1, MGMT promoter and SEMA4B).

RESULTS: The median inhalable Cr(VI) concentration among the exposed workers was 0.11 μg/m
3 (5
th-95
th percentile: 0.02-8.44). Exposed workers showed higher 8-OHdG, TL, and MGMT promoter methylation levels and lower mtDNA-cn and MNRET compared with controls. Company-based differences in biomarkers were observed. Univariate analysis showed that TL was positively correlated with U-Cr, and 8-OHdG and MGMT promoter methylation were positively correlated with RBC-Cr. Multivariate analyses with adjustment for possible confounders showed higher 8-OHdG, TL, and MGMT promoter methylation in exposed workers compared with controls.

CONCLUSIONS: Low-to-moderate Cr(VI) exposure was associated with higher oxidative stress, longer telomeres and epigenetic alterations, changes that previously have been linked to lung cancer risk. This study highlights the molecular impacts of Cr(VI) exposure, underscoring the importance of reducing the exposure to Cr(VI).

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type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Environmental Research
pages
122123 - 122123
publisher
Elsevier
external identifiers
  • pmid:40516896
ISSN
1096-0953
DOI
10.1016/j.envres.2025.122123
language
English
LU publication?
yes
additional info
Copyright © 2025. Published by Elsevier Inc.
id
969de9d5-2960-43d5-98f3-11e57d3fd1bb
date added to LUP
2025-06-18 09:51:06
date last changed
2025-06-18 11:36:02
@article{969de9d5-2960-43d5-98f3-11e57d3fd1bb,
  abstract     = {{<p>BACKGROUND: Hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) is a lung cancer carcinogen. However, the genotoxic and mutagenic effects of Cr(VI) in humans at low-to-moderate occupational exposure levels are unknown. This study aims to investigate the relationship between occupational exposure to Cr(VI) and the presence of oxidative damage, genetic and epigenetic alterations.</p><p>METHODS: We included 113 Cr(VI) exposed workers in 14 companies and 72 controls recruited within the SafeChrom project. Cr(VI) was measured in inhalable dust and total chromium in urine (U-Cr) and red blood cells (RBC-Cr). Analysed effect biomarkers included urinary 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), micronuclei in peripheral blood reticulocytes (MNRET), blood relative mitochondrial DNA copy number (mtDNA-cn), relative telomere length (TL), and blood DNA methylation of four lung cancer-related genes (F2RL3, LINE-1, MGMT promoter and SEMA4B).</p><p>RESULTS: The median inhalable Cr(VI) concentration among the exposed workers was 0.11 μg/m <br>
 3 (5<br>
 th-95<br>
 th percentile: 0.02-8.44). Exposed workers showed higher 8-OHdG, TL, and MGMT promoter methylation levels and lower mtDNA-cn and MNRET compared with controls. Company-based differences in biomarkers were observed. Univariate analysis showed that TL was positively correlated with U-Cr, and 8-OHdG and MGMT promoter methylation were positively correlated with RBC-Cr. Multivariate analyses with adjustment for possible confounders showed higher 8-OHdG, TL, and MGMT promoter methylation in exposed workers compared with controls.<br>
 </p><p>CONCLUSIONS: Low-to-moderate Cr(VI) exposure was associated with higher oxidative stress, longer telomeres and epigenetic alterations, changes that previously have been linked to lung cancer risk. This study highlights the molecular impacts of Cr(VI) exposure, underscoring the importance of reducing the exposure to Cr(VI).</p>}},
  author       = {{Jiang, Zheshun and Runkel, Agneta and Lindh, Christian and Kukka, Aimonen and Catalán, Julia and Pineda, Daniela and Lundh, Thomas and Vogel, Ulla and Saber, Anne T and Tondel, Martin and Engfeldt, Malin and Krais, Annette M and Broberg, Karin}},
  issn         = {{1096-0953}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{10}},
  pages        = {{122123--122123}},
  publisher    = {{Elsevier}},
  series       = {{Environmental Research}},
  title        = {{Oxidative damage, genetic and epigenetic alterations in hexavalent chromium exposed workers - A cross-sectional study within the SafeChrom project}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2025.122123}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/j.envres.2025.122123}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}