GLUTATHIONE-S-TRANSFERASE M1 AND P1 GENOTYPES AND URINARY-EXCRETION OF 1-HYDROXYPYRENE IN COKE-OVEN WORKERS

The objective of this study was to analyze the effect of the GSTM1 and GSTP1 genotypes on urinary 1-hydroxypyrene, a biomarker for exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon. Urine samples were collected from coke oven workers at two time points (from 66 and 46 workers, respecti vely) and l-hydroxypyrene was quantitated by HPLC chromatography. The genotype of GSTM1 and GSTP1 was determined by a PCR methods discrimina ting between GSTM1 present or absent and three different alleles for G STP1. The mean value of urinary I-hydroxypyrene was higher at both tim e points in coke oven workers with GSTM1 gene present compared to work ers having the GSTM1 null genotype, but this difference was not statis tically significant. The GSTM1 and GSTP1 genotypes were not significan t parameters in a multiple regression analysis with urinary l-hydroxyp yrene as the dependent variable and with GSTM1, GSTP1, exposure group and smoking habit as explanatory variables. The biomarker l-hydroxypyr ene is not or only marginally influenced by the GSTM1 genotype. No sys tematic influence of the GSTP1 genotypes was found. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.