Health and carcinogenic risk evaluation for cohorts exposed to PAHs in petrochemical workplaces in Rawalpindi city (Pakistan)

Abstract

This study presents the analyses of urinary biomarkers (1-OHPyr, α- and β-naphthols) of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) exposure and biomarkers of effect (i.e. blood parameters) in petroleum-refinery workers (RFs) and auto-repair workers (MCs). Exposed subjects had higher concentrations of white blood cell (WBC) count than control subjects (CN) subjects (5.31 × 10³ μL⁻¹ in exposed vs. 5.15 × 10³ μL⁻¹ in CN subjects), while the biomarker of oxidative DNA damage (8-OHdG) was significantly higher in MCs. The exposure among these two cohorts could be influenced by the ambience of the workplaces; in fact, MCs’ shops are relatively damp and enclosed workplaces in comparison with the indoor environment of refineries. PAHs in the dust samples from mechanical workshops probably originated from mixed sources (traffic exhaust and petroleum spills), while the incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR) for MCs showed moderate-to-low cancer risk from exposure to dust-bound PAHs. The study shows that increasing PAH exposure can be traced in MC workstations and needs to be investigated for the safety of public health.

Keywords:

• auto-mechanic shops
• oxidative stress
• Pakistan
• petrol refinery
• traffic pollution

Acknowledgements

We gratefully acknowledge the financial support provided by the Higher Education Commission (HEC), Pakistan, for the research work under the International Research Support Initiative Program (IRSIP).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Higher education comission of Pakistan.