Pacheco CFJ, Franco JL

Language: Spanish
References: 0
Page: 28-32
PDF size: 183.58 Kb.

ABSTRACT

Benzene is an organic solvent that is part of gasoline. Every day service station workers, specifically tasked with supplying the fuel, are exposed to this solvent on a daily basis. The main objective of the study was to show the existence of changes in hematological parameters due to occupational exposure to benzene, based on the phenol concentration in urine presented by these workers. This was a descriptive cross-sectional, non-experimental field study of a sample of 69 service station workers from the city of Maracay , Aragua state. The hematology analyzer Mindray BC-5150 was used for hematological parameters, Theis-Benedict method for phenol in urine, and Jaffé modified for creatinine in urine. Through direct contact with the workers, the objectives and benefits of the study were explained to them. Once their participation was accepted, they signed an infamous consent, and then applied a survey validated by the Worker's Health Study Center (CEST). Significant deference was found for CHCM, HCM and urinary phenol levels between the exposed and non-exposed groups of benzene. We found a significant negative association between the parameters and the age at work in the study group. As the level of urinary phenol increases in the workers' body, hematological parameters tend to decrease. Workers exposed to benzene by means of gasoline present a greater risk of presenting hematological alterations and high levels of phenol.