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University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill

Superfund Research Program

Development and Application of Biomarkers of Exposure

Project Leader: Stephen M. Rappaport (University of California-Berkeley)
Grant Number: P42ES005948
Funding Period: 1995 - 2011

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Project Summary (2006-2011)

Project investigators are building upon their previous innovations in developing biomarkers of exposure to benzene and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and in applying these biomarkers in exposed populations. The biomarkers include urinary analytes (unmetabolized parent compounds and stable metabolites) and blood-protein adducts of the reactive metabolites. Human cancers and other toxic effects of benzene and PAHs arise from metabolism of the parent compounds to toxic intermediates, including epoxides, diolepoxides, and quinones. Human metabolism can vary among individuals due to a host of factors. The following two hypotheses are being considered in this project: Hypothesis 1: biomarkers of exposure can be used to elucidate the human metabolism of benzene and PAHs. Hypothesis 2: biomarkers of exposure can be used to quantify interindividual variability of metabolism of benzene and PAHs, due to differences in gender, age, and physiological, lifestyle, and genetic factors. To test these hypotheses, Dr. Rappaport is pursueing three specific goals. First, his team is gathering appropriate samples of urine and blood with which to evaluate exposure-biomarker relationships. Populations include both high/moderate exposures (coke ovens, asphalt and rubber workers, persons using smoky coal for cooking and residential heating) and low/background exposures (workers exposed to diesel exhausts and jet fuel, smokers and nonsmokers in the general public). Second, project investigators are developing or adapting ultra-trace mass spectrometric (GC-MS and LC-MS/MS) methods to measure the urinary and blood analytes. These methods build upon existing GC-MS assays of protein adducts from this laboratory and are being expanded to include state-of-the-art LC-MS/MS methods for the urinary metabolites. Third, the researchers employ statistical models to characterize the exposure-biomarker relationships, paying particular attention to evidence of concavity, due to saturation of metabolism, and to the low-dose linear slope. Adding available covariates for gender, age, physiological and lifestyle factors, and genetic factors, they are exploreing the sources of interindividual variability in the exposure-specific levels of biomarkers. Blood samples from a study of childhood leukemias are also being analyzed for protein adducts of benzene and PAHs in collaboration with the U.C. Berkeley SBRP. This allow Berkeleys investigators to achieve additional specific goals in their program.

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Last Reviewed: October 02, 2024