Background: Petrol station attendants are workers chronically exposed to petroleum derivatives primarily through inhalation of the volatile fraction of petrol (or gasoline) during vehicle refueling.
Objectives: To describe the demographic data and habits of workers in petroleum stations in different delta governorates, and to assessment of the toxicological health hazards in these workers.
Subjects and Methods: The present study was a cross sectional community-based on study for monitoring the potential biochemical and clinical hazards in some petroleum station workers. The study was done on 200 workers in petroleum station in Delta area and 200 persons in the same age and sex as a control. This study concentrated on characterizing the health effects of BTEX compounds of petroleum stations in Delta region; (Dakahlia, Gharbiya, Damietta, Sharqiyah and Qalyubiya governorates).
Results: Smoking pattern of the studied workers revealed that more than half of studied exposed subjects were smokers (58%).Regarding health problems of exposed subjects, the present study showed only 28% had abdominal and pelvic problems and the respiratory problems .All studied groups were subjected to ECG, very highly significant difference were found between exposed and non- exposed groups regarding normal, and sinus tachycardia. This study showed alteration in CBC parameters, although it was within its normal range but it was significantly lower in WBC, lymphocytes, neutrophils, basophils, RBC, hematocrit, MCH, MCHC, monocytes, hemoglobin and platelet count and was significantly higher in lymphocytes,and all subjects had normal morphology of WBCs, RBCs platelet and absent blasts. All lipid profile values determined for Petroleum Station workers in this study were greater than the acceptable level. Moreover, Statistical analysis revealed a significant gradual increasing with increased duration of exposure in renal function biomarker; kidney injury molecule 1 (KIM-1) which plasma concentration reflects renal tubular injury.