Hematological and hepatic chemical evaluation among workers exposed to gasoline components, Ciudad del Este-Paraguay
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.18004/mem.iics/1812-9528/2025.e23122509Keywords:
hematological parameters, hepatic parameters, occupational exposure, gasoline, gas stationsAbstract
Certain organic solvents that are key components gasoline, such as benzene, toluene, and xylene, can cause adverse effects such as hepatotoxicity and bone marrow alterations in the health of service station workers. A cross-sectional, descriptive observational study with a quantitative approach was conducted with the purpose of describing potential variations in hematological parameters and liver chemistry (GGT, total, direct, and indirect bilirubin) in service station workers in Ciudad del Este concerning their length of employment. Forty-nine workers from 15 service stations in the city participated. The clinical analyses were carried out at the external laboratory of the Catholic University, Alto Paraná campus. The data were processed using descriptive statistics and the ANOVA test. The results revealed that in men, alterations in hemoglobin (29.7%), red blood cells (21.6%), and lymphocytes (59.5%) predominated, while in women, the most frequent alterations were found in neutrophils (66.7%), lymphocytes (58.3%), and eosinophils (50%). 8.16% of the participants (all men) had at least one altered liver parameter (bilirubin). A non-significant linear increase in red blood cells, hematocrit, and hemoglobin with length of employment was observed, alongside a decrease in platelets. These findings, though subclinical, highlight the importance of implementing regular medical surveillance programs for early detection and health care for workers. It is recommended that longitudinal case-control studies be conducted to confirm the observed trends and investigate long-term effects.
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