Traffic fumes harm DNA

Reported by Susan Aldridge, PhD, medical journalist

It is already known that environmental pollution has an adverse impact on health. Now a team in Taipei, Taiwan, reveal that traffic fumes cause DNA damage, which could have a range of health implications.

The researchers measured a chemical called 1-OHPG in the urine of a group of 47 female motorway toll booth operators and in a group of 27 female office workers. This chemical is used as a marker of exposure to traffic fumes as is nitric oxide. Levels of nitric oxide in blood were also measured. At the same time, levels of another chemical called 8-OHdG were measured; this is indicative of DNA damage.

Levels of 8-OHdG were 90 per cent higher, on average, among the toll booth operators and levels of nitric oxide were 30 per cent higher. This suggests that traffic fume exposure is causing DNA damage. The levels of 1-OHPG were strongly correlated with those of 8-OHdG, which strengthens this conclusion. Clearly it is important to control levels of traffic pollution for the sake of our health.

Source
Occupational and Environmental Medicine March 2005 Volume 62 pages 216-222