Evaluation of genotoxicity in a group of workers from a petroleum refinery aromatics plant

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2006

Authors

Roma Torres, J (Author) Other; Teixeira, JP (Author) Other; Silva, S (Author) Other; Laffon, B (Author) Other; Cunha, LM (Author) FCUP; Mendez, J (Author) Other; Mayan, O (Author) Other

Journal

Title: Mutation Research - Genetic Toxicology and Environmental Mutagenesis

Vol. 604

Pages: 19-27

ISSN: 1383-5718

Publisher: Elsevier

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 70 Citations

Scopus - 79 Citations

Scientific classification

FOS: Medical and Health sciences > Basic medicine

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-004-M6B

DOI: 10.1016/j.mrgentox.2005.12.005

Abstract (EN): Petroleum refinery workers are potentially exposed to a wide range of petroleum-derived hydrocarbons and chemical substances used in the manufacturing of petroleum derivatives. Benzene, toluene and xylene (BTX)are produced by distillation in the aromatics units and used as raw materials for petrol and petrochemical products. The aim of this study was to evaluate the genotoxic effects of occupational exposure to BTX in a petroleum refinery in the North of Portugal. The exposed group consisted of 48 workers from the aromatics plant and the control group consisted of 30 persons matched for various confounding factors. Chromosome aberrations (CA), micronuclei (MN), and DNA damage (evaluated by means of the comet assay) were measured in peripheral blood leukocytes. t,t-Muconic acid (t,t-MA), hippuric acid (HA) and methylhippuric acid (MHA) concentrations were measured in urine samples collected at the end of the workshift. The results suggest that occupational exposure to toluene and xylene is very low. A statistically significant increase in t,t-MA excretion was found in the exposed group although t,t-MA levels were found to be lower than the biological exposure index (BEI). Significant increases were found for CA, MN and comet tail length (TL) in the exposed group (p < 0.05). No association was found between tobacco smoking and the effect biomarkers analysed. A positive association was found between CA and MN with age in the control group (P < 0.05).

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 9