The Impact of Genotoxicity in Coke Oven Workers: Systematic Review With Meta‐Analysis

This systematic review (SR) with meta-analysis investigates the genotoxicity potential of coke oven workers (COWs) exposed to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) through a comprehensive analysis of studies retrieved from PubMed, SCOPUS, and Web of Science. The comparisons were defined as standardized mean difference (SMD), and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were established. A systematic search conducted in May 2025 identified 21 relevant studies, which employed different assays, such as the micronucleus assay (MA) and the comet assay (CA) in order to assess DNA damage. The outcomes suggested that 21 of the reviewed studies observed genotoxic effects related to this exposure, with 20 inducing micronucleus formation and chromosomal abnormalities. As for the quality assessment, a total of 18 studies were classified as Strong, and three (out of 21) were deemed as Moderate. No study was categorized as Weak, which proves our findings can be considered trustworthy. The meta-analysis (six studies) revealed a statistically significant difference between COWs and the control group, for both the MN (SMD = 0.70, 95% CI, 0.26-1.15, p = 0.002) and CA (SMD = 0.86, 95% CI, 0.34-1.38, p = 0.001) with high heterogeneity. We concluded that there is a potential for genotoxicity in COWs. This certainly shows the importance of further investigation and regulatory oversight to ensure coke oven professionals' safety. Also, we understand such findings are vital for clarifying the role of biomarkers related to genotoxicity due to this occupational exposure.