Abstract
BACKGROUND: Occupational and environmental exposure to several pollutant factors such as petroleum products containing benzene has toxic effects on different body systems. The hematopoietic system and immune system are among the affected systems. This study aims to investigate the effect of benzene exposure on some blood parameters of workers at several fuel stations in Basra city, as well as to reveal if the continuous exposure may induce an inflammatory response, which is reflected by changes in some hematological and inflammatory markers. METHODS: The study included two groups of males. The first group consists of 72 exposed workers at petrol stations in different locations in the Basra city. The other group is the control group, which consists of 75 nonexposed subjects (students and faculty members of the college). Different hematological parameters (WBC, RBC, HGB, MCV, MCHC, and MCH) have been evaluated. Serum concentrations of IL-6 and hs-CRP were estimated in all workers and nonexposed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). RESULTS: Data showed significant hematological changes in the exposed workers, and that anemia was a common disorder among them. Furthermore, there was a significant decline in WBC and different types of WBC including lymphocytes, monocytes, and neutrophils in the exposed workers. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate and serum levels of interleukin-6 and hs-CRP were significantly higher in exposed workers than in nonexposed. A significant correlation was identified among blood parameters, while a strong inverse correlation was identified between both MCHC and ESR. The most significant inverse correlation was found between RBC and IL-6 and MCH with hs-CRP. In addition, a significant negative correlation was found between monocytes and IL-6. CONCLUSION: The changes in all hematology and inflammatory parameters refer to damage in the hematopoietic system due to continuous exposure to vapors of petrol products, which also result in a significant increase in interleukin-6.