title: Biological monitoring of occupational exposure to benzene and toluene.
abstract: This study was carried out to evaluate the biological monitoring of occupational exposure to benzene and toluene in a total number of 31 male exposed workers and 30 control subjects. The present study showed a statistically significant higher level of biological indices of exposure (p < 0.01) of phenol and hippuric acid in urine of workers exposed to benzene and toluene than control subjects. Significant changes (p < 0.05, 0.01) in the levels of hematological and biochemical findings have been observed among exposed workers and control group. In addition, statistically significant higher levels of Mg, Mn and Ca were found among workers exposed to benzene and toluene while statistically significant lower levels of serum iron (p < 0.05) have been observed. No significant variations could be detected in the level of Zn and Cu between exposed and control subjects.
authors.affiliation: High Institute of Public Health, Occupational Health Department, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt.
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: El-Gazzar
authors.forename: H A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Abdel Hamid
authors.forename: K F
authors.initials: KF
authors.lastname: El-Said
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001554:Benzene / Q000633:toxicity*; D002118:Calcium / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004534:Egypt; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D006403:Hematologic Tests; D006801:Humans; D007501:Iron / Q000097:blood; D008274:Magnesium / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008345:Manganese / Q000097:blood; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D014050:Toluene / Q000633:toxicity*; D016482:Urinalysis
chemical_list: D014050:Toluene; D008345:Manganese; D007501:Iron; D008274:Magnesium; D001554:Benzene; D002118:Calcium