Hepatorenal Dysfunctions Among Workers Exposed To Petroleum Products

Certain peoples have a greater risk of exposure to gasoline vapors; these include filling-station workers, service station attendants, drivers of gasoline trucks and refinery workers.Benzene is metabolized in the liver by cytochrome P450 (CYP) 2E1 to benzene oxide. The metabolites undergo further metabolism through oxidation, dehydrogenation or conjugation with sulfate or glucuronic acid . Activation of benzene and its reactive metabolites leads to continuous production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which leads to lipid peroxidation and damages DNA, RNA, leading to genetic modification and alterations in the functions of important enzymes (i.e. liver) and proteins .

Volatile organic compounds such as gasoline and other fuels are associated with a wide variety of deleterious health effects including liver and kidney diseases. A comparative cross sectional study was conducted from January 2018 to April 2018 at Mekelle city, Tigray region, Northern Ethiopia among gasoline station workers and reporting that the mean level of ALT, AST, Urea, creatinine, and uric acid was significantly higher among gasoline stations workers when compared to control study participants and there was also a significant increase in ALT, AST, Urea, creatinine and uric acid among gasoline stations with increase duration of exposure .