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Title: A panel study of occupational exposure to fine particulate matter and changes in DNA methylation over a single workday and years worked in boilermaker welders.

Authors: Kile, Molly L; Fang, Shona; Baccarelli, Andrea A; Tarantini, Letizia; Cavallari, Jennifer; Christiani, David C

Published In Environ Health, (2013 Jun 11)

Abstract: Exposure to pollutants including metals and particulate air pollution can alter DNA methylation. Yet little is known about intra-individual changes in DNA methylation over time in relationship to environmental exposures. Therefore, we evaluated the effects of acute- and chronic metal-rich PM2.5 exposures on DNA methylation.Thirty-eight male boilermaker welders participated in a panel study for a total of 54 person days. Whole blood was collected prior to any welding activities (pre-shift) and immediately after the exposure period (post-shift). The percentage of methylated cytosines (%mC) in LINE-1, Alu, and inducible nitric oxide synthase gene (iNOS) were quantified using pyrosequencing. Personal PM2.5 (particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter ≤ 2.5 μm) was measured over the work-shift. A questionnaire assessed job history and years worked as a boilermaker. Linear mixed models with repeated measures evaluated associations between DNA methylation, PM2.5 concentration (acute exposure), and years worked as a boilermaker (chronic exposure).PM2.5 exposure was associated with increased methylation in the promoter region of the iNOS gene (β = 0.25, SE: 0.11, p-value = 0.04). Additionally, the number of years worked as a boilermaker was associated with increased iNOS methylation (β = 0.03, SE: 0.01, p-value = 0.03). No associations were observed for Alu or LINE-1.Acute and chronic exposure to PM2.5 generated from welding activities was associated with a modest change in DNA methylation of the iNOS gene. Future studies are needed to confirm this association and determine if the observed small increase in iNOS methylation are associated with changes in NO production or any adverse health effect.

PubMed ID: 23758843 Exiting the NIEHS site

MeSH Terms: Adult; Air Pollutants, Occupational/analysis; Air Pollutants, Occupational/toxicity*; DNA Methylation*; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II/genetics*; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II/metabolism; Occupational Exposure/adverse effects*; Occupational Exposure/analysis; Particulate Matter/analysis; Particulate Matter/toxicity*; Promoter Regions, Genetic; Welding*; Young Adult

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