Benzene exposure from the BP refinery flaring incident alters hematological and hepatic functions among smoking subjects

Abstract

Objectives: To evaluate the health effects of benzene exposure among smoking subjects from a prolonged flaring incident that occurred at the British Petroleum (BP) refinery in Texas City, USA. Material and Methods: The study included smoking subjects who had been exposed and unexposed to the benzene release. Using medical charts, clinical data including white blood cell (WBC) counts, platelet counts, hemoglobin, hematocrit, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) in the case of smoking subjects exposed to benzene was reviewed and analyzed. Results: A total of 791 tobacco smoking subjects (benzene-exposed: N = 733, unexposed: N = 58) were included. Benzene-exposed subjects had significantly higher levels of WBC (×10 3 /μl) counts (8±2.1 vs. 7.5±1.6, p = 0.003) and platelet (×10 3 /μl) counts (263.7±69.7 vs. 222.9±44.3, p = 0.000) as compared with the unexposed subjects. The mean hemoglobin, hematocrit, BUN, and creatinine levels did not differ significantly between the benzene-exposed and -unexposed smoking subjects. Serum levels of ALP (IU/l) was significantly elevated in the benzene-exposed subjects compared with the unexposed subjects (84.5±16.9 vs. 73.8±15.9, p = 0.002). Similarly, benzene-exposed subjects had significantly higher levels of AST and ALT as compared with those unexposed subjects. Conclusions: Despite a smoking history, residents exposed to benzene from the prolonged BP flaring incident experienced significant alterations in hematological and hepatic functions indicating their vulnerability to the risk of developing hepatic or blood related disorders. Int J Occup Med Environ Health 2017;30(6):849 -860

Adverse Health Complaints of Adults Exposed to Benzene After a Flaring Disaster at the BP Refinery Facility in Texas City, Texas

“…In some of these studies, we found that benzene exposure from the BP flaring incident significantly altered hematological and hepatic functions in exposed subjects regardless of their age (children, young adults, and elderly) or smoking status. [23][24][25][26][27][28] In addition, we found that children experienced a range of illness symptoms and an altered profile of urinary phenol after their exposure to benzene, thus indicating their vulnerability to potentially increased adverse health complications. 29 In this study, we assessed the prevalence of adverse health symptom complaints in adults after their exposure to benzene as a result of the BP flaring disaster.…”

“…18 Previously, we reported that benzene exposure significantly altered the hematological and hepatic functions in children, adults, and elderly subjects. [23][24][25][26][27][28] In addition, recently we reported that children exposed to benzene experienced a range of illness symptoms and an altered profile of urinary phenol, suggesting their vulnerability to increased adverse health complications. 29 The analyses in this study sought to further assess the illness symptom profiles following benzene exposure from the prolonged toxic release of the BP flaring event in adults, building on our earlier study findings.…”

Effects of Benzene: Hematological and Hypersensitivity Manifestations in Resident Living in Oil Refinery Areas

“…Subsequently, cohort studies were conducted on adults, including on their smoking behavior; indeed, cigarette smoking is the main confounding factor when assessing biological monitoring data of occupational exposure to benzene [56]. In the first work [57], a total of 2213 adults (387 unexposed and 1826 exposed) were recruited, then divided into groups of non-smokers (329 unexposed and 1093 exposed) and smokers (58 unexposed and 733 exposed) subjects and were analyzed in two different studies [58,59]. Children were also enrolled in the cohort studies.…”

Ameliorative Effects of Bovine Lactoferrin on Benzene-Induced Hematotoxicity in Albino Rats

“…Human exposure to Bz is associated with multiple adverse health effects, including alterations in hematological, hepatic, renal, lung, cardiac, immune system, nerve, and reproductive functions, with an increased risk of developing carcinogenesis ( 5 , 6 ). Thus, Bz exposure can result in oxidative impairment, cell cycle arrest, apoptosis, and genotoxicity in the bone marrow [BM; ( 7 , 8 )].…”