• Environmental Mutagens and Carcinogens
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.149-155
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• 2001

Eighty-one workers including 38 employees directly incinerating industry wastes were recruited from a company located in South Korea. To evaluate the association between urinary 1-hydroxypyrene glucuronide (1-OHPG) levels, as internal dose of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) exposure, and glycophorin A (GPA) mutation frequency, as an early biologic effect indicator. Urinary 1-OHPG levels were measured by synchronous fluorescence spectroscopy after immunoaffinity purification using monoclonal antibody 8E11. Erythrocyte GPA variant frequency (NN or NO) was assessed in MN heterozygotes with a flow cytometic assay. The GSTM1 and GSTT1 genotypes were assessed by a multiplex PCR method. The GPA NN phenotype frequency was higher in occupationally exposed group (n=14, mean$\pm$S.D. 6.6$\pm$12.0 in 10/SUP 6/ erythrocyte cells) than in non-exposed group (n=22, 2.1$\pm$3.5). Similarly, the GPA(NO or NN) phenotype frequency was higher in exposed group (n=14, 9.7$\pm$17.3) than non-exposed group (n=22, 4.2$\pm$6.3). The above differences failed to reach statistical significance, but a significant increase was seen in GPA variant frequency levels with increase in urinary 1-OHPG levels (Spearman's correlation: p=0.06 (NO), p=0.07 (NO or NN)). When this association was evaluated by GSTM1 genotype status, the association between GPA mutation and urinary 1-OHPG levels was stronger in individuals with GSTM1 present genotype (Spearmans correlation; r=0.50, p=0.02). These results suggest that the association between urinary 1-OHPG and GPA mutation is be modulated by the GSTM1 genotype.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.165-173
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• 2000

Objectives : To assess the availability of the glycophorin A (GPA) assay to detect the biological effect of ionizing radiation in workers exposed to low-doses of radiation. Methods : Information on confounding factors, such as age and cigarette smoking was obtained on 144 nuclear power plant workers and 32 hospital workers, by a self-administered questionnaire. Information on physical exposure levels was obtained from the registries of radiation exposure monitoring and control at each facility. The GPA mutant assay was performed using the BR6 method with modification by using a FACScan flow cytometer. Results : As confounders, age and cigarette smoking habits showed increasing trends with GPA variants, but these were of no statistical significance. Hospital workers showed a higher frequency of the GPA variant than nuclear power plant workers in terms of the NO variant. Significant dose-response relationships were obtained from in simple and multiple linear regression models. The slope of the regression equation for nuclear power plant workers was much smaller than that of hospital workers. These findings suggest that there may be apparent dose-rate effects. Conclusion : In population exposed to chronic low-dose radiation, the GPA assay has a potential to be used as an effective biologic marker for assessing the bone marrow cumulative exposure dose.