title: Hematological indices of peripheral blood in workers occupationally exposed to benzene, toluene and xylene.
abstract: In 106 workers occupationally exposed to benzen, toluen and xylene through 1 to 122 months basic hematological indices of peripheral blood were evaluated. The benzene, toluene and xylene concentrations in the air at workplaces were equal to 0-370, 0-580 and 0-506 mg/m3, respectively. The workers were subdivided into three subgroups according to the service time corresponding to 1-29, 31-54 and 55-122 months. The first hematological changes noted in the workers studied consisted of diminishing the mean corpuscular hemoglobin and the mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration in erythrocytes. Increased numbers of reticulocytes, lowered total count of leukocytes due to decreased numbers of T and "non-T, non-B" cells as well as increased numbers of monocytes were other signs of exposure investigated. Increased numbers of reticulocytes were noted in all workers independently of service time whereas other hematological alterations presented above were marked only in the subgroup of workers exposed to benzene, toluene and xylene through 55 to 122 months. It was stated that the T cell count decreased gradually in relationship with an extent of exposure time (negative correlation). Since laboratory examinations serving the evaluation of health state of workers exposed are only few it was postulated that the E rosette test may be of practical use for monitoring the toxic effect of benzene, toluene and xylene on the lymphocyte system.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000032:analysis; D001554:Benzene / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001769:Blood / Q000187:drug effects*; D001777:Blood Coagulation / Q000187:drug effects; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006400:Hematocrit; D006801:Humans; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009787:Occupational Medicine; D013997:Time Factors; D014050:Toluene / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014992:Xylenes / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D014992:Xylenes; D014050:Toluene; D001554:Benzene