Benzene poisoning, clinical and blood abnormalities in two Brazilian female gas station attendants: two case reports

Abstract

BackgroundBrazilian gas station workers are chronically exposed to benzene, toluene, xylene (BTX) during their working time. Describe below two cases of latin female gas station workers with benzene poisoning symptoms and miscarriage history.Case presentationIn both cases were identified complex chromosomal rearrangements (CCR) with fluorescence in situ hybridization, applied to whole chromosome paints by chromosomes 1, 2 and 4. The lower natural killer cell (NK) cells have also been observed in cases correspondents, especially the rare type of NK (NKbright) in their peripheral blood cells.ConclusionsIt is known that acquired chromosomal aberrations are positively correlated with cancer and reproductive risk. In concordance, lower NK cytotoxicity increases the risk for cancer, as well. Thus, this is the first study providing hints on a possible causative relation of lower NK cytotoxicity and increase rates of chromosomal rearrangements including CCRs.

Imunophenotypic Evaluation as a Tool for Monitoring Risks for Blood Malignancies in Gas Station Workers

“…In agreement with this finding, Santiago et al, (2017) described a rare type of NK cells (NK bright) in peripheral blood of two Brazilian female gas station workers. This type of NK cells is known to have a low lytic activity with a high expression of cytokine.…”

“…The exposed group consisted of 49 workers (7 males and 42 females) recruited from 5 gas stations in the city of Rio de Janeiro. Gas stations were selected in a non-random way, seeking the ones with a larger number of women who could be more affected by BTEX exposure than men (Santiago et al, 2014;Santiago et al, 2017). In the control group a total of 26 unexposed subjects (9 males and 17 females) were selected among our university employees (professors and administrative staff) and students.…”

Health survey and assessment of the polymorphisms BRCA1/P871L, BRCA1/Q356R, and BRCA2/N372H in female gas station workers in Rio de Janeiro

“…One of the participants reported an abortion at 4 months of gestation and a fetus with congenital malformation (short stature); she justified the cause as the hormone replacement that she had been doing for 12 years. Santiago et al [] described two cases of gas station workers with a history of miscarriage, which, in the chromosomal analysis, presented complex rearrangements and immunological changes involving NK (Natural Killer) cell counts.…”

The association of three DNA repair genes polymorphisms on the frequency of chromosomal alterations detected by fluorescence in situ hybridization

“…Women have shown faster benzene biotransformation than men, metabolizing 23–26% more benzene, and its known that benzene must be bio-transformed to exert its toxic effects. Thus, women may be at greater risk, and environmental/biological limit values established in studies of male subjects may be inadequate (Brown et al 1998 ; Angelini et al 2012 ; Moro et al 2017 ; Santiago et al 2017 ).…”