Health and carcinogenic risk evaluation for cohorts exposed to PAHs in petrochemical workplaces in Rawalpindi city (Pakistan). Issue 1 (2nd January 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kamal, Atif; Cincinelli, Alessandra; Martellini, Tania; Palchetti, Ilaria; Bettazzi, Francesca; Malik, Riffat Naseem
• Is Part Of: International journal of environmental health research. Volume 26:Issue 1(2016)
• Page Start: 37
• Page End: 57
• Publication Date: 2016-01-02
• Subjects: auto-mechanic shops -- oxidative stress -- Pakistan -- petrol refinery -- traffic pollution; Environmental health -- Periodicals; 363.7
• DOI: 10.1080/09603123.2015.1007843
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0960-3123

Abstract

Abstract : This study presents the analyses of urinary biomarkers (1-OHPyr, α- and β-naphthols) of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) exposure and biomarkers of effect (i.e. blood parameters) in petroleum-refinery workers (RFs) and auto-repair workers (MCs). Exposed subjects had higher concentrations of white blood cell (WBC) count than control subjects (CN) subjects (5.31 × 10 3 μL −1 in exposed vs. 5.15 × 10 3 μL −1 in CN subjects), while the biomarker of oxidative DNA damage (8-OHdG) was significantly higher in MCs. The exposure among these two cohorts could be influenced by the ambience of the workplaces; in fact, MCs' shops are relatively damp and enclosed workplaces in comparison with the indoor environment of refineries. PAHs in the dust samples from mechanical workshops probably originated from mixed sources (traffic exhaust and petroleum spills), while the incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR) for MCs showed moderate-to-low cancer risk from exposure to dust-bound PAHs. The study shows that increasing PAH exposure can be traced in MC workstations and needs to be investigated for the safety of public health.