Preliminary Study of Ambiente Levels and Exposure to BTEX in the Rio de Janeiro Olympic Metropolitan Region, Brazil.

This study aims to determine BTEX concentrations in the Metropolitan Region of Rio de Janeiro (MRRJ, Brazil) and evaluate potential health risks of benzene and ethylbenzene exposure based on the collected data, in 2015, the year before the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. Samples were collected and analyzed following method TO-15 (U.S.EPA). Toluene was the most abundant compound in all samples (mean concentration 16.72 ± 15.70 µg m-3). The average benzene concentration in ambient air (3.44 ± 3.14 µg m-3) was slightly lower than the yearly average "upper assessment threshold", 3.5 µg m-3, established by EU Directive 2008/50/EC. The calculated cancer risk values were > 1 × 10-6 for all samples, clearly indicating a potential cancer risk and the importance of fixed measurements by the monitoring stations to assess ambient air quality in the urban areas of the MRRJ. Calculated ratios for the BTEX species indicate that these compounds are predominantly emitted from vehicular sources with a contribution from industrial sources.

Biomonitoring of gasoline station attendants exposed to benzene: Effect of gender.

Women are employed in increasing numbers as gasoline station attendants, a work category with risk of exposure to benzene. We have assessed the effect of gender on biomarkers of occupational benzene exposure. Gasoline station attendants (20 men and 20 women) and 40 control individuals (20 men and 20 women) with no history of occupational benzene exposure were evaluated. Benzene exposure was monitoring by environmental and biological measurements. Urinary trans,trans-muconic acid levels, well-known genetic and hematological alterations linked to benzene exposure, and non-cancer effects on the immune, hepatic, and renal systems were investigated. Our results suggest a potential effect of gender on some effects of occupational benzene exposure, particularly the hematological parameters and trans,trans-muconic acid levels. Despite limitations of our study, our findings provide important considerations about occupational exposure of women to benzene and may contribute to the development of occupational protection standards.

Early hematological and immunological alterations in gasoline station attendants exposed to benzene.

INTRODUCTION: 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.