Background: Benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene (BTEX) are the most important toxic volatile compounds in the air and could be easily absorbed through the respiratory tract. In recent years, the risk of EXPOSURE to BTEX compounds, especially benzene as a carcinogen, has been considered in petroleum depot stations.Objective: To assess the occupational EXPOSURE of petroleum depot workers in Iran to BTEX compounds.Methods: After completing a questionnaire and assessing occupational EXPOSURE to BTEX compounds, 78 (46 exposed and 32 non-exposed) depot workers were randomly selected to participate in this study. Air sampling and analysis of BTEX was conducted according to the NIOSH method No.1501. Analysis of urinary hippuric acid, as an indicator of toluene EXPOSURE, was carried out according to NIOSH method No.8300. Personal monitoring of the high EXPOSURE group to BTEX compounds was repeated to verify the results obtained in the first phase of the monitoring.Results: Among the 9 operating groups studied, occupational EXPOSURE to benzene and toluene was higher in quality control and gasoline loading operators—the median EXPOSURE ranged from 0.16 to 1.63 ppm for benzene and 0.2 to 2.72 ppm for toluene. Median EXPOSURE of other group members to BTEX compounds was below the detection limit of analytical method (0.07, 0.06, 0.05, and 0.05 ppm, respectively). The level of toluene EXPOSURE measured showed correlation with neither post-shift urinary hippuric acid (Spearman's rho=0.128, p=0.982) nor with the difference between post- and pre-shift urinary hippuric acid (Spearman's rho=0.089, p=0.847) in depot operational workers.Conclusion: Gasoline loading operators are exposed to a relatively high level of benzene.

Oxidative stress arises when there is a marked imbalance between the production and removal of reactive oxygen species that may lead to several diseases. Cadmium is an environmental and industrial pollutant that results in formation of free radicals. The aim of this study was to determine the oxidative stress status in cad­mium EXPOSURE workers.This is a cross-sectional study of 36 people of cadmium EXPOSURE workers with two years employment records who were randomly selected as the case group and 36 other people who were selected with matched age and gender as the control group. Both groups were compared for the different parameters of oxidative stress.The mean and standard deviation (mean SD) of the total antioxidant capacity of serum was 2.9±0.9 in case group and 2.4±1.2 in control group (p=0.003). The rate of lipid peroxidation was 7.2±3.4 in case group and 9.3±3.6 in control group (p=0.015). The rate of total thiol group was 34±243 in case group and 0.246±0.114 in control group (p=0.004).The results of the study indicated that following EXPOSURE to cadmium, their TAC and thiol group antioxidants markedly enhanced to retaliate the influence of excessive reactive oxygen radicals. This decreased lipid peroxidation.

Background: Noise EXPOSURE is one of the most important problems in workplaces and general environments. Noise EXPOSUREs can have both auditory and non-auditory health effects.Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the noise EXPOSURE levels in oil drilling rig floor and camp facilities in Ahvaz, Iran.Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study. Environmental and personal noise EXPOSURE measurements were carried out by the method established by ISO-9612 with a sound level meter and noise level dosimeter.Results: All the measurements were performed in two parts of an oil drilling rig: the operation area and the camp area. The noise levels in 100 points in the rig area were between 54-110 dB. The noise levels were also measured in 38 points in the camp area and ranged between 52-100 dB.Conclusions: Our results showed that only 17% of the measured points in the oil drilling rig floor were in safe area; 39% were in caution area and 44% were in danger area. In the camp facilities area, 51% of the points were in safe area, 38% were in caution area and 11% in danger area. The main sources of noise EXPOSURE in the rig floor area were power generators.

Introduction: Organophosphate pesticides are widely used for agricultural pest control. Recent studies have linked pesticide EXPOSURE to respiratory symptoms and spirometry abnormalities. Regular use of appropriate personal protective equipment could protect workers from adverse respiratory health effects. This study explores the prevalence of chronic respiratory symptoms and ventilatory function among workers with occupational EXPOSURE to organophosphate pesticides. Materials and Methods: An interviewer- administered questionnaire was used to collect information on sociodemographic characteristic , smoking profile and history of respiratory health among 134 worker at a orgnophosphate production plant (exposed group ), and workers occupationally unexposed to dust , fumes and gases (unexposed group ). Pulmonary function was assessed for both groups.Results: A higher percentage of the exposed workers reported recurrent and prolonged respiratory symptoms including cough (17%), phlegm (19%), wheeze (6%), dyspnoea (9%), shortness of breath (7%) and bronchial asthma (4%). Among the unexposed, prevalence of these symptoms were 9, 11, 1, 2, 4, and 1%, respectively. FVC, FEV1, and FEV1/FVC were significantly lower in the exposed workers compared with unexposed workers. Logistic regression analysis showed that the risk of respiratory symptoms increased 3.6 fold in organophosphate workers when compared to controls. Conclusion: This study suggests an increase of adverse respiratory health effects (reduction in lung function and a rise in respiratory symptoms) in workers with organophosphate EXPOSURE. We conclude that long term EXPOSURE to organophosphate is associated with chronic or permanent restrictive lung disease. This phenomenon was not observed in the control group.