Gasoline-station workers in Brazil: Benzene exposure; Genotoxic and immunotoxic effects

• Published in: Mutation research Vol. 865; p. 503322
• Main Authors: Poça, Katia Soares da, Giardini, Isabela, Silva, Paula Vieira Baptista, Geraldino, Barbara Rodrigues, Bellomo, Antonella, Alves, Julia Araújo, Conde, Taline Ramos, Zamith, Helena Pereira da Silva, Otero, Ubirani Barros, Ferraris, Fausto Klabund, Friedrich, Karen, Sarpa, Marcia
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01-05-2021
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Air Pollutants, Occupational - toxicity; Benzene - toxicity; Brazil - epidemiology; Comet Assay; Cross-Sectional Studies; DNA Damage - drug effects; DNA Damage - immunology; Female; Gasoline - toxicity; Humans; Immune System - drug effects; Immune System - metabolism; Immunomodulation - drug effects; Inhalation exposure; Inhalation Exposure - adverse effects; Inhalation Exposure - analysis; Lymphocyte Count; Male; Micronuclei; Micronucleus Tests; Middle Aged; Mutagenicity Tests; Occupational exposure; Occupational Exposure - adverse effects; Occupational Exposure - analysis; Occupational Exposure - statistics & numerical data; Odds ratio; Stress, Physiological - drug effects; Stress, Physiological - immunology; T-Lymphocytes; T-Lymphocytes - drug effects; T-Lymphocytes - pathology; Young Adult; Brazil; Odds ratio; Inhalation exposure; T-Lymphocytes; Occupational exposure; Micronuclei; Comet assay
• ISSN: 1383-5718; 1879-3592; 1873-135X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.mrgentox.2021.503322

•Exposed worker had two-fold the levels of urinay t,t-MA as those not exposed.•Genotoxicity and immunomodulation effects of occupational exposure to benzene.•Exposure to gasoline induced DNA damage and increase of micronuclei and nuclear bud.•Decrease in Th, naive Th, and CD4/CD8 ratio and increase in NK cells and memory Th.•Brazilian gas station workers had higher OR to genotoxic effects than control group.
Chronic exposure to benzene is a risk factor for hematological malignancies. Gasoline-station workers are exposed to benzene in gasoline, via both inhalation and dermal contact (attendants and managers) or inhalation (workers in the on-site convenience stores and offices). We have studied the exposure of these workers to benzene and the resulting genotoxic and immunotoxic effects. Levels of urinary trans, trans-muconic acid were higher among gasoline-station workers than among office workers with no known exposure to benzene (comparison group). Among the exposed workers, we observed statistically significant biological effects, including elevated DNA damage (comet assay); higher frequencies of micronuclei and nuclear buds (CBMN assay); lower levels of T-helper lymphocytes and naive Th lymphocytes; lower CD4 / CD8 ratio; and higher levels of NK cells and memory Th lymphocytes. Both groups of exposed workers (inhalation and inhalation + dermal routes) showed similar genotoxic and immunotoxic effects.