**3. Results**

### **3.1 Medical conditions and basic laboratory data**

Review of the subject′s basic data revealed that some study group suffers from a health condition, particularly respiratory diseases (chest pains, shortness of breath, asthma). This was particularly true among mechanics, one of the workers has olfactory deficits. In total, 44% of asphalt plant workers had at least one medical condition.

### *3.1.1 Hemostatic assays*

Laboratory studies showed significantly higher the number of WBC with T-student test among the exposed group compared to the control group (8.72 ± 1.92 and P = 0.015), particularly lymphocytes (32.09 ± 6.99 and P = 0.003). (HCT) and (MCHC) were significantly higher among the study group compared to the control group (P = 0.034 and P < 0.0001, respectively). The asphalt workers have significantly higher levels of (AST) (40.59 ± 7.56 unit/l, p < 0.0001).

### *3.1.2 BPDE-DNA adducts levels in the study group*

In the study group, BPDE-DNA adducts were detected in the WBC of 11 out of 25 individuals (44%), 2 non-smokers and 9 smokers. The concentrations of

**81**

**Table 1.**

**Group Study**

Study group

Control group

*Levels of BPDE-DNA adducts.*

*Detection of Benzo[a]Pyrene Diol Epoxide-DNA Adducts in White Blood Cells of Asphalt Plant…*

BPDE-DNA adducts among the exposed group ranges between(0 to 2.75 ng/mL) except for one individual who had exceptionally high concentration at 16.5 ng/mL.

with concentration of 0.75 ng/ml (**Table 1**). He was a smoker.

*3.1.3 BPDE-DNA adducts levels according to smoking status*

*3.1.4 BPDE-DNA adducts levels according to age*

*3.1.5 BPDE-DNA adduct levels according to disease status*

BPDE-DNA adducts levels and any of these variables.

**Sum BPDE-DNA adducts**

disease (his BPDE-DNA adducts concentration was 16.5 ng/mL).

*3.1.6 BPDE-DNA adducts levels according various laboratory biomarkers*

mL. He was from the older age category.

In the control group, BPDE-DNA adducts were detected in only one individual

Using statistical analysis, the number of individuals with detected BPDE-DNA adducts in their WBC was higher among the study group compared to the control

In the study group, there was no significant difference in the number of individuals with detected BPDE-DNA adducts between smokers and non-smokers (Mann–Whitney U test, P = 0.43), the results of Levels of BPDE-DNA adducts for

Among asphalt workers, the concentrations of BPDE-DNA adducts ranges from 0 to 2.75 ng/mL for subjects <45 year-old and ranges from 0 to 2.25 ng/mL for those ≥45 year-old except for one subject with unusually high concentration of 16.5 ng/

As discussed above, 44% of asphalt workers had health conditions and/or symptoms such as chest pain, dyspnea, and asthma. Among the asphalt workers, there was a statistically non-significant trend toward positive relationship between the concentrations of BPDE-DNA adducts and disease status (χ2 test, p = 0.08). Nonetheless, one asphalt worker suffered from olfactory deficits (his BPDE-DNA adducts concentration was 2.25 ng/mL) and another suffered from spinal disc

The relationship between BPDE-DNA adducts levels and various laboratory biomarkers (CBC variables and AST) among asphalt workers was assessed using spearman coefficient. There was no significant correlation identified between

> **non- BPDE-DNA adducts**

**Sample Number (N) Percentage (%)**

25 11 14 100 44 56

25 1 24 100 4 96

**Sum BPDE-DNA adducts**

**non- BPDE-DNA adducts**

*DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.96437*

He was a smoker.

group (χ2 test, p = 0.001).

Group Study below (**Table 1**).

*Detection of Benzo[a]Pyrene Diol Epoxide-DNA Adducts in White Blood Cells of Asphalt Plant… DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.96437*

BPDE-DNA adducts among the exposed group ranges between(0 to 2.75 ng/mL) except for one individual who had exceptionally high concentration at 16.5 ng/mL. He was a smoker.

In the control group, BPDE-DNA adducts were detected in only one individual with concentration of 0.75 ng/ml (**Table 1**). He was a smoker.

Using statistical analysis, the number of individuals with detected BPDE-DNA adducts in their WBC was higher among the study group compared to the control group (χ2 test, p = 0.001).

### *3.1.3 BPDE-DNA adducts levels according to smoking status*

In the study group, there was no significant difference in the number of individuals with detected BPDE-DNA adducts between smokers and non-smokers (Mann–Whitney U test, P = 0.43), the results of Levels of BPDE-DNA adducts for Group Study below (**Table 1**).

#### *3.1.4 BPDE-DNA adducts levels according to age*

Among asphalt workers, the concentrations of BPDE-DNA adducts ranges from 0 to 2.75 ng/mL for subjects <45 year-old and ranges from 0 to 2.25 ng/mL for those ≥45 year-old except for one subject with unusually high concentration of 16.5 ng/ mL. He was from the older age category.

#### *3.1.5 BPDE-DNA adduct levels according to disease status*

As discussed above, 44% of asphalt workers had health conditions and/or symptoms such as chest pain, dyspnea, and asthma. Among the asphalt workers, there was a statistically non-significant trend toward positive relationship between the concentrations of BPDE-DNA adducts and disease status (χ2 test, p = 0.08). Nonetheless, one asphalt worker suffered from olfactory deficits (his BPDE-DNA adducts concentration was 2.25 ng/mL) and another suffered from spinal disc disease (his BPDE-DNA adducts concentration was 16.5 ng/mL).

### *3.1.6 BPDE-DNA adducts levels according various laboratory biomarkers*

The relationship between BPDE-DNA adducts levels and various laboratory biomarkers (CBC variables and AST) among asphalt workers was assessed using spearman coefficient. There was no significant correlation identified between BPDE-DNA adducts levels and any of these variables.


**Table 1.** *Levels of BPDE-DNA adducts.*

*Erythrocyte - A Peripheral Biomarker for Infection and Inflammation*

Syria. Repeated thawing and freezing of the samples were avoided.

**2.3 Determination of BPDE-DNA adduct levels**

microgram of DNA. The analyses were applied twice.

**3.1 Medical conditions and basic laboratory data**

Genomic DNA was isolated from peripheral WBC by using DNA Kit (Thermo Scientific Gene JET Genomic DNA Purification Kit) (Qiagen, USA). DNA concentrations were measured using Gene Nano Drop (Biochrom, England), which occured in the biology laboratory at Alassad University Hospital in Damascus,

After DNA was isolated from WBC, the samples were subsequently diluted to a concentration of 2 g of DNA in 1 mL. Phosphate-buffered Saline with PH 7.2 (1X) (Gibco by life technologies) was used for dilution and washing. BPDE-DNA adduct levels (ng/ml) were measured according to the standard method provided by OxiSelect BPDE-DNA Adduct ELISA Kit (Cell Biolabs, Inc., San Diego, USA). This ELISA kit is an immunoassay enzyme developed for rapid detection of BPDE-DNA adducts. The quantity of BPDE adduct in DNA samples is determined by relative comparison of a known BPDE-DNA standard curve. The kit provides sufficient reagents to perform up to 96 assays, including standard curve and unknown DNA samples. The results were expressed as nanograms of BPDE-DNA adducts per

**Apparatus:** ELISA (Tecan, Switzerland) in the Blood Bank of Damascus

Statistical analysis: The statistical analysis of this study was performed using SPSS software version 13.0. P value of <0.05 was considered to be statistically significant. Mann–Whitney U test was used to compare continuous data with nonnormal distribution, χ2 test was used to compare categorical variables between the two groups, and spearman coefficient and independent T- student tests were used.

Review of the subject′s basic data revealed that some study group suffers from a health condition, particularly respiratory diseases (chest pains, shortness of breath, asthma). This was particularly true among mechanics, one of the workers has olfactory deficits. In total, 44% of asphalt plant workers had at least one medical condition.

Laboratory studies showed significantly higher the number of WBC with T-student test among the exposed group compared to the control group (8.72 ± 1.92 and P = 0.015), particularly lymphocytes (32.09 ± 6.99 and P = 0.003). (HCT) and (MCHC) were significantly higher among the study group compared to the control group (P = 0.034 and P < 0.0001, respectively). The asphalt workers have signifi-

In the study group, BPDE-DNA adducts were detected in the WBC of 11 out of 25 individuals (44%), 2 non-smokers and 9 smokers. The concentrations of

cantly higher levels of (AST) (40.59 ± 7.56 unit/l, p < 0.0001).

*3.1.2 BPDE-DNA adducts levels in the study group*

**2.2 DNA isolation**

University.

**3. Results**

*3.1.1 Hemostatic assays*

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