University of California, Berkeley
Grant: $371,805 - National Institutes of Health - Sep. 14, 2009
33% voted satisfied - 67% voted not satisfied - 3 vote(s) cast
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Award Description: Formaldehyde is an important industrial chemical to which millions of workers are exposed worldwide. Environmental exposures can also be significant as a result of off-gassing in new mobile homes and from combustion. The International Agency of Research on Cancer (IARC) recently classified formaldehyde as a human carcinogen that causes nasopharyngeal cancer and also concluded that there is 'strong but not sufficient evidence for a causal association between leukemia and occupational exposure to formaldehyde . Although several epidemiological studies and our new meta-analysis support an association with leukemia, some investigators have argued that inhaled formaldehyde cannot reach the bone marrow, is not toxic to the hematopoietic system, and thus cannot cause leukemia. In order to improve our understanding of the biological plausibility of formaldehyde-induced leukemogenesis, we have developed a number of working hypotheses that we will test in three Specific Aims proposed as part of biomarker population study of formaldehyde-exposed workers in China. We plan to apply biomarkers of early biological effect on the causal pathway of leukemia development in formaldehyde-exposed workers in vivo; and, to determine if the chromosome damaging effects of formaldehyde on myeloid progenitor cells can be reproduced in vitro. To achieve these goals, we will first employ the OctoChrome FISH technique, developed and validated in studies of the well-known leukemogen, benzene, to determine for the first time if a direct link exists between human formaldehyde exposure and leukemia-specific chromosomal aberrations in peripheral blood lymphocytes (Aim 1) and circulating myeloid progenitor cells (Aim 2). Human cell culture studies in vitro will be performed in an attempt to validate our findings from the population studies, to determine if the chromosome alterations observed in exposed workers can be attributed to formaldehyde (Aim 3). These findings are anticipated to provide important information on the potential mechanisms of formaldehyde-induced leukemia that will assist in the public health risk assessment and regulation of formaldehyde.
Project Description: This award has helped the Principal Investigator and Co-Investigator in preparing and submitting an influential article entitled, 'Occupational exposure to formaldehyde, hematotoxicity and leukemia-specific chromosome changes in cultured myeloid progenitor cells (EPI-09-0762R), which has been accepted by the CEBP on October 13, 2009.
Infrastructure Description: N/A
Jobs Summary: We are in the process of hiring 3 new personnel for this project, including Research Specialist, Cytogeneticists, and Graduate Student Researcher. (Total jobs reported: 0)
Project Status: Less Than 50% Completed
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