Monitoring of DNA Damage in Individuals Exposed to Petroleum Hydrocarbons in Ecuador

Abstract

Currently, it is known that several chemical agents used or generated by the oil industry are classified as mutagens and/or carcinogens. Among these we have gasoline, diesel, butane gas, styrene, benzene, chloroform, and others. Studies have verified that these chemicals have effects in fertility (abortions, sterility); produce various upheavals, such as dizziness, nausea, muscular pain; and produce chromosomal damage at the DNA level, which in the long or medium run, can develop into cancer and leukemia. The genetic damage in exposed individuals was measured by means of the comet test, chromosomal alterations test, and the study of the CYP 1A1 and MSH2 genes. These methods were applied to determine the genotoxicity of hydrocarbons and their residue in human beings. When conducting these tests on the blood samples of individuals exposed to hydrocarbons (workers of oil companies) and of a control population of the area of study and Quito, it was found that, in effect, the exposed individuals presented a greater amount of damage at the DNA level as well as at the chromosomal level than the individuals from the control populations (P< 0.001). Thus, it can be determined that populations that are exposed to hydrocarbons are susceptible to developing genetic damage. Therefore, risk groups can be determined in certain zones where the oil impact has been greater.

Dna damage in gasoline station workers caused by occupational exposure to petrol vapour in turkey

“…Some products contain carcinogenic compounds 4 . Benzene is a natural component of crude oil that is mixed with toluene and xylene in petrol 18,5 . Significant DNA damage can result from occupational exposure.…”

Does CYP1A1 gene polymorphism affect cell damage biomarkers and ageing?

“…These substances include gasoline, diesel, butane gas, styrene, benzene, and chloroform (Paz-y-Mino et al, 2008). The statistical association between different genotypes and both higher MN frequency and shorter telomere length among workers was probably due to the interplay between genotypes and chemicals, which can cause genotoxic effects and DNA damage (Quiñones et al, 2006).…”

Ambiente, petróleo y vulnerabilidad política en el Oriente Ecuatoriano: ¿hacia nuevas formas de gobernanza energética?

“…), destrucción no compensada de los recursos naturales, colonización de territorios ancestrales, violación de los derechos humanos, conflictos interétnicos y aun entre indígenas y colonos, pérdida de cohesión social, pérdida de la productividad de las tierras (banano, café en particular), etc. La salud humana y la animal también han sido impactadas: a la fuerte mortalidad y morbilidad de los animales con incidencias graves en los sistemas locales de subsistencia, se añade la prevalencia de ciertas patologías graves como cánceres, patologías ampliamente denunciadas en los últimos 20 años Hurtig et al 2002;Paz y Miño et al 2008), a pesar de la falta de datos científicos consensuados (Bissardon et al 2013;Bissardon 2012).…”