Evaluation of oxidative stress, micronutrients and homocysteine and their associations with genetic instability in anesthesiologists occupationally exposed to waste anesthetic gases

Abstract

In a previous study (results obtained during master degree; FAPESP #2013/05084-8), we showed, for the first time in the literature, increased frequencies of buccal micronucleus (MN) and cell death parameters (karyorrhexis and pyknosis), and decreased frequency of basal cells in anesthesiologists exposed to waste anesthetic gases (WAGs). Since there are some hypotheses about the possible toxic mechanisms of WAGs, including alkylation of the N7 position of purines, increase of reactive oxygen species and inhibition of the folate cycle, the aim of the current study is to evaluate and to better understand the possible oxidative stress, vitamins and homocysteine roles in the genetic instability reported in anesthesiologists. Thus, 60 professionals (30 anesthesiologists occupationally exposed to WAGs, and 30 physicians without occupational exposure matched by age, sex and lifestyle) will be evaluated. Oxidative stress markers on DNA and lipids (8-hydroxy-22-deoxyguanosine - 8-oxo-dG and malonaldehyde - MDA), and antioxidant defense (total antioxidant performance - TAP), in addition to pyridoxine (vitamin B6), folate (vitamin B9), cobalamin (vitamin B12), and homocysteine will be assessed at HNRCA (Boston, MA), which is known as an international reference center, with a possibility to strengthen the internationalization of our researches. All these biomarkers will be correlated with buccal MN, cell death and basal cells frequencies, showing the novelty of this study. Therefore, it is expected that the dataset may contribute for elucidating the possible toxicity mechanisms of WAGs in exposed health professionals, contributing to occupational toxicology field.