title: Early hematological and immunological alterations in gasoline station attendants exposed to benzene.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Elucidation of effective biomarkers may provide tools for the early detection of biological alterations caused by benzene exposure and may contribute to the reduction of occupational diseases. This study aimed to assess early alterations on hematological and immunological systems of workers exposed to benzene.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty gasoline station attendants (GSA group) and 28 control subjects were evaluated. Environmental and biological monitoring of benzene exposure was performed in blood and urine. The potential effect biomarkers evaluated were δ-aminolevulinate dehydratase (ALA-D) activity, CD80 and CD86 expression in lymphocytes and monocytes, and serum interleukin-8 (IL-8). The influence of confounding factors and toluene co-exposure were considered.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Although exposures were below ACGIH (American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists) limits, reduced ALA-D activity, decreased CD80 and CD86 expression in monocytes and increased IL-8 levels were found in the GSA group compared to the control subjects. Furthermore, according to multiple linear regression analysis, benzene exposure was associated to a decrease in CD80 and CD86 expression in monocytes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings suggest, for the first time, a potential effect of benzene exposure on ALA-D activity, CD80 and CD86 expression, IL-8 levels, which could be suggested as potential markers for the early detection of benzene-induced alterations.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Toxicology (LATOX), Department of Analysis, Pharmacy Faculty, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; Post-Graduate Programme in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Angela M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Moro
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Toxicology (LATOX), Department of Analysis, Pharmacy Faculty, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; Post-Graduate Programme in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Natália
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Brucker
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Toxicology (LATOX), Department of Analysis, Pharmacy Faculty, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; Post-Graduate Programme in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Mariele F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Charão
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Toxicology (LATOX), Department of Analysis, Pharmacy Faculty, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; Post-Graduate Programme in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sauer
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Toxicology (LATOX), Department of Analysis, Pharmacy Faculty, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Freitas
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Toxicology (LATOX), Department of Analysis, Pharmacy Faculty, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Juliano
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Durgante
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Toxicology (LATOX), Department of Analysis, Pharmacy Faculty, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Guilherme
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bubols
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Toxicology (LATOX), Department of Analysis, Pharmacy Faculty, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Campanharo
authors.affiliation: Health Sciences Institute, Feevale University, Novo Hamburgo, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Linden
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ana P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Souza
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Immunology, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bonorino
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Clinical Biochemistry, Department of Clinical and Toxicological Analysis, Federal University of Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Moresco
authors.affiliation: Post-Graduate Programme in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Diogo
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pilger
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry of Pontifical Catholic University Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
authors.forename: Adriana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gioda
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical and Toxicological Analysis, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Farsky
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Biology, University of Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria.
authors.forename: Albert
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Duschl
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Toxicology (LATOX), Department of Analysis, Pharmacy Faculty, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil; Post-Graduate Programme in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil. Electronic address: solange.garcia@ufrgs.br.
authors.forename: Solange C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Garcia
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001554:Benzene / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D001774:Blood Chemical Analysis; D001938:Brazil; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000097:blood / Q000633:toxicity* / Q000652:urine; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006403:Hematologic Tests; D006801:Humans; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D016273:Occupational Exposure
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D001554:Benzene
keywords: ALA-D activity; Benzene exposure; CD80 and CD86 expression; IL-8 levels; Occupational toxicology