The effects of occupational exposure to petrol vapor on biochemical parameters of workers at Al zawiya oil refinery and Mellitah oil and gas refinery companies

Abstract

The oil refineries are the most important of chemical industries which produce Benzene and its metabolites that among the most dangerous compounds are toxic oxidizers causing many serious health risks to oil refineries workers. This study aimed to analyze the effects of exposure to petrochemicals on biochemical parameters among workers at Al Zawia oil refinery and Mellituh oil and gas refinery companies and compared with the unexposed group. Methodology: Analysis of plasma samples and their comparison with biochemical tests of kidney and liver function among two groups designated as exposed (100 petroleum refineries workers) and control subjects (100 non-oil civil servants), respectively. Results: The exposed group had a significantly elevated mean concentration of alkaline phosphatase ALP (u/L) as compared to unexposed (178.2 ± 84.3 versus 132.32 ± 52.7, p = <0.001). Also, the mean aspartate aminotransferase AST (IU/L) levels were significantly higher in the exposed group compared with the unexposed group (25.6 ± 7.4 versus 23.5 ± 7.5, P = 0.03). Similarly, the mean serum alanine aminotransferase ALT (IU/L) levels were increased significantly in the benzene exposed group compared with the unexposed group (22.3 ± 9.47 versus 18.87 ± 9.6, P = 0.01), and the mean± SD of serum creatinine (mg/dL) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) (mg/dL) levels were significantly increased (0.98 ± 0.27 versus 0.70 ± 0.24, P = < 0.001), and (33.9 ± 9.3 versus 22.4 ± 9.1, P = <0.001) in the benzene exposed group compared with the unexposed group, respectively. Conclusion: occupational exposure to benzene caused significant alterations in biochemical parameters indicating that workers may be at a higher risk of developing hepatic or renal related disorders.