Quantification of the DNA fragmentation in artisan brick makers from Chihuahua, Mexico

Introduction
In México, large proportion of red brick used at the construction industry is handmade using non technified methods which result in inefficient, uneconomic and highly contaminating processes. During “the baking”, traditional ovens are used along with any kind of fuel available without considering its calorific capacity or polluting power. The baking time takes, in some cases, from 30 to 36 hours. During that time, the brick ovens generate lots of contaminating emissions that have a profound impact on the quality of the air in the working environment and in the nearby human settlements. Artisan brick makers don’t follow any basic occupational safety and hygiene practices, so they are directly exposed to emissions for prolonged periods of time; besides, in México, many of the brick makers have their home a few meters away from the ovens. The objective of this study was quantifying DNA fragmentation induced by oven emissions in the artisan brick makers of the southern area of Chihuahua City, Mexico.

Methods
Two populations were studied, artisan brick makers of the southern area of Chihuahua City (n = 30) and the maintenance workers from the Autonomous University of Chihuahua (n= 29). The fragmentation of the DNA was determined in peripheral blood lymphocytes of the studied population using unicellular electrophoresis under alkaline conditions (pH>13).

Results
Our results show that the individuals from the population exposed to the emissions of the brick making ovens have higher DNA fragmentation that the individuals of the control population, which are not exposed to oven emissions.

Discussion
This study shows evidence that the oven emissions exposition of the artisan brickmaking industry represent a risk for the occupationally exposed population and emphasizes the need of producing a brick in a sustainable and more technified way.