inhalation of benzene vapours promote various and dangerous health problems. Fuel station workers are mostsusceptible to benzene inhalation toxicity. Samples were collected twice, at beginning of the study and 6 monthslater from 40 fuel station workers from different egyptian governorates and 10 control healthy volunteers. Fuelstation workers were sub divided into four groups according to years working in the station. All of them areexposed to benzene vapours and exhausts during their duties, their work shifts were 8 hrs./day. Results indicatedthat; benzene vapours exposure induced significant increasing in serum Lead and Cadmium andMyeloperoxidase (MPO) enzyme activity levels. This goes with marked immunologic changes presented bydecreases in immunoglobulins; IgA and IgG, along with increases in levels of IgM and IgE. Also,Malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were significantly increased. Meanwhile, reduction in some other biochemicalparameters including; Copper, Zinc and Iron micronutrients, as well as; Superoxide Dismutase (SOD), Catalase(CAT) enzyme levels and Glutathione (GSH) content. Hence, the study inferred that prolonged benzene in-halation can lead to biochemical and immune disorders, probably through potentiating oxidative stress andinflammation pathways. |
