title: Health consequences of involuntary exposure to benzene following a flaring incident at British Petroleum refinery in Texas City.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Environmental exposure to benzene can lead to deleterious effects on many biological systems including blood-forming organs, liver, and kidneys. The authors sought to investigate the health consequences of benzene exposure following a flaring incident that occurred at the British Petroleum (BP) refinery in Texas City, TX.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cohort of subjects who were exposed to a daily sustained release of toxic chemicals including more than 7,711 kg (17,000 lb) of benzene for a total duration of 40 days due to BP's flaring incident.
  
  
  METHODS
  Not applicable to an observational study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Subjects who underwent physical and clinical evaluation between June 2010 and October 2012 were included. Demographic and clinical laboratory data were collected and analyzed. Hematologic data such as white blood cell (WBC) counts, platelet counts, hemoglobin, hematocrit, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and creatinine levels in the serum were evaluated. In addition, data on alkaline phosphatase (ALP), aspartate amino transferase (AST), and alanine amino transferase (ALT) levels in the serum were examined. Urinary phenol was evaluated as a benzene metabolite. The outcomes were compared between exposed and unexposed patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 200 subjects (benzene exposed, n = 100 and unexposed, n = 100) were included. Benzene exposed subjects showed significantly higher levels of WBC (×10(3) per μL) count (8.6 ± 5.4 vs 6.5 ± 2.0, p = 0.0003) and platelet (×10(3) per μL) count (291.3 ± 82.7 vs 264.1 ± 74.0, p = 0.0076) compared with the unexposed subjects. ALP (IU/L) was significantly elevated in the benzene exposed subjects compared with the unexposed subjects (121.2 ± 73.7 vs 65.4 ± 23.6, p = 0.000). Similarly, benzene exposed subjects had significantly higher levels of AST (IU/L) compared with unexposed subjects (23.4 ± 11.8 vs 19.5 ± 8.9, p = 0.0089).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This retrospective pilot study found that environmental benzene exposure from the BP's flaring incident appears to pose significant health risks including specific alteration of blood cells and liver enzymes, indicating that subjects exposed to benzene may be at a higher risk of developing hepatic or blood related disorders.
authors.affiliation: Principal Investigator, University Cancer and Diagnostic Centers, Houston, Texas.
authors.forename: Mark A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: D'Andrea
authors.affiliation: University Cancer and Diagnostic Centers, Houston, Texas.
authors.forename: Omesh
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.affiliation: University Cancer and Diagnostic Centers, Houston, Texas. To contact the author, University Cancer and Diagnostic Centers, 12811 Beamer Road, Houston, TX 77089. E-mail: kreddy_usa@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: G Kesava
authors.initials: GK
authors.lastname: Reddy
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001554:Benzene / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D055884:Chemical Hazard Release; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D019652:Extraction and Processing Industry; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006402:Hematologic Diseases / Q000097:blood*; D006403:Hematologic Tests; D006801:Humans; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000097:blood*; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010578:Petroleum; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013781:Texas; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D010578:Petroleum; D001554:Benzene