title: Evaluation of genotoxic effects of benzene and its derivatives in workers of gas stations.
abstract: The search for reliable biomarkers of human exposure to benzene and its derivatives is still subject of research. Many of the proposed biomarkers have limitations ranging from the low sensitivity to the wide variability of results. Thus, the aim of our study was to assess the frequencies of chromosomal abnormalities (CA) and sister chromatid exchanges (SCE) in workers of gas stations, with (cases, n = 19) and without (local controls, n = 6) risk of exposure to benzene and its derivatives, comparing them with the results from the general population (external controls, n = 38). The blood dosages of benzene, toluene, and xylenes were measured in all participants. Blood solvent levels were compared with the findings obtained in cytogenetic evaluation and a research protocol which included data of the workplace, lifestyle, and health of the individuals. We did not detect the presence of benzene and its derivatives and did not find chromosomal damage that may be associated with the gas station activity in cases. Moreover, although we found an association of increased SCE and the working time in the local controls, the values found for SCE are within normal limits. Thus, our evaluation of SCE and CA reflected the levels of benzene and its derivatives observed in the blood. We believe, therefore, that SCE and CA may actually constitute possible tests for the evaluation of these exposures. However, we believe that further studies, including individuals at risk, are important to confirm this assertion.
authors.affiliation: Postgraduation Program in Pathology, Universidade Federal de Ciências da Saúde de Porto Alegre (UFCSPA), Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Patrícia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Trevisan
authors.forename: Juliane Nascimento
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: da Silva
authors.forename: Alessandra Pawelec
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: da Silva
authors.forename: Rafael Fabiano Machado
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Rosa
authors.forename: Giorgio Adriano
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Paskulin
authors.forename: Flávia Valladão
authors.initials: FV
authors.lastname: Thiesen
authors.forename: Ceres Andréia Vieira
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: de Oliveira
authors.forename: Paulo Ricardo Gazzola
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Zen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity*; D001554:Benzene / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D002869:Chromosome Aberrations / Q000139:chemically induced; D005260:Female; D005742:Gasoline / Q000633:toxicity; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000032:analysis* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012854:Sister Chromatid Exchange / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D015415:Biomarkers; D005742:Gasoline; D001554:Benzene