Environmental assessment of BTEX (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylenes) and biomarkers of genotoxicity in gas stations workers

dataset

posted on 2017-12-05, 09:02 authored by Isabele Campos Costa Amaral, Leandro Vargas Barreto de Carvalho, Joyce Neri da Silva Pimentel, Angélica Cardoso Pereira, Jucilene Aparecida Vieira, Vinicio Soares de Castro, Renato Marçullo Borges, Sérgio Rabello Alves, Simone Mitri Nogueira, Marianne de Medeiros Tabalipa, Ubirani Barros Otero, Katia Maria Pinto Guedes de Oliveira, Sérgio Machado Corrêa, Antônio Sérgio Almeida Fonseca, Josino Costa Moreira, Frederico Peres, Liliane Reis Teixeira, Marco Antônio Carneiro Menezes, Rita de Cássia Oliveira da Costa Mattos, Paula de Novaes Sarcinelli, Ariane Leites Larentis

Abstract Introduction: gas station workers are exposed to several chemicals in their workplace, highlighting benzene, due to its carcinogenic properties. Objective: to assess the genotoxic damage related to occupational exposure to BTEX (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylenes) in workers of five gas stations in Rio de Janeiro, RJ. Methods: analysis of BTEX concentrations in the air were carried out; as well as activities of catalase and glutathione S-transferase; and comet assay in whole blood samples of 97 workers. Results: BTEX levels were within the Brazilian threshold levels recommended by the NR 15, including Annex 13-A. However, an oscillation of the comet assay results was observed among workers of different gas stations, mainly in workers from gas stations with lower concentrations of benzene. Discussion: this result is in accordance with the current international scientific literature that indicates a supralinear exposure-response curve for benzene. In lower concentrations we could observe a high non-linear risk of leukemia, probably due to a greater benzene metabolism and a higher production of its toxic metabolites. Conclusion: the results of this study suggest that exposure to BTEX, even in low concentrations, contributes to genotoxic risk to human health.