Oxidative Stress and Genotoxicity of Long-Term Occupational Exposure to Low Levels of BTEX in Gas Station Workers

Feng Xiong, Qin Li, Bo Zhou, Jiongli Huang, Guiqiang Liang, Li’e Zhang, Shuyan Ma, Li Qing, Linhan Liang, Jing Su, Xiaowu Peng, Qin Li and Yunfeng Zou
Additional contact information
Feng Xiong: Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530021, China
Qin Li: Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530021, China
Bo Zhou: Research Center for Regenerative Medicine, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530021, China
Jiongli Huang: Atmospheric Environment Research Center, Scientific Research Academy of Guangxi Environmental Protection, Nanning 530021, China
Guiqiang Liang: Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530021, China
Li’e Zhang: Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530021, China
Shuyan Ma: Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530021, China
Li Qing: Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530021, China
Linhan Liang: Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530021, China
Jing Su: Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530021, China
Xiaowu Peng: Center for Environmental Health Research, South China Institute of Environmental Sciences, Ministry of Environmental Protection, Guangzhou 510655, China
Qin Li: Department of Ophthalmology, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530021, China
Yunfeng Zou: Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530021, China

IJERPH, 2016, vol. 13, issue 12, 1-9

Abstract: Atmospheric benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes (BTEX) can lead to multiple health injuries. However, what remains uncertain is the effect of long-term exposure to low levels of BTEX. Thus, we determined the BTEX levels in the air from the refueling and office areas in gas stations. Then we collected workers’ (200 refueling vs. 52 office workers) peripheral blood samples to analyze the serum total-superoxide dismutase (T-SOD), glutathione (GSH), malondialdehyde (MDA), and 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) levels. DNA damage was analyzed by the comet assay and micronucleus test in buccal epithelial cells. We found that the levels of BTEX in refueling areas were significantly higher than those in office areas ( p < 0.001). The serum T-SOD and GSH of refueling workers were significantly lower than those in office workers ( p < 0.001). By contrast, the serum MDA and 8-OHdG of refueling workers were significantly higher than those of office workers ( p < 0.001, MDA; p = 0.025, 8-OHdG). Furthermore, tail and Olive tail moments in refueling workers were longer ( p = 0.004, tail moment; p = 0.001, Olive tail moment), and the micronucleus rate was higher ( p < 0.001) than those in office workers. Taken together, long-term exposure to low levels of BTEX may reduce the antioxidant ability and increase the risk of DNA damage in refueling workers of gas stations.

Keywords: antioxidant; BTEX; comet assay; DNA damage; micronucleus test; refueling workers (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2016
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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