Correlation of TSB and Urea with Pb, Na and Mg in Workers of Fuel Station

Basim A. Twaij

doi:10.52716/jprs.v16i3.1061

Authors

Basim A. Twaij Ministry of Oil, Midland Refineries Company, Najaf Refinery, Najaf, Iraq.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.52716/jprs.v16i3.1061

Keywords:

Liver, Kidney, Workers of Fuel Station, Pb, Na, TSB, Urea.

Abstract

Petrol, manufactured from crude oil, is a primary pathway of exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Among hazardous substances related to fuel-associated occupational exposure, benzene, being a natural component of crude oil and a byproduct from petrol refining, is classified as having one of the highest risks. The aim of this study was to compare serum levels of total serum bilirubin (TSB), urea, sodium (Na), magnesium (Mg), and lead (Pb) between fuel station workers and a control group of non-exposed individuals.

In this study, a total of 60 male fuel station workers and 30 male controls were recruited from Al-Najaf City, Iraq. Serum levels of urea, TSB, Na, and Mg were measured using spectrophotometric methods with commercially available diagnostic kits. Serum lead (Pb) concentrations were measured with flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry.

The results show that serum TSB and Pb levels were significantly higher among fuel station workers than in controls (p < 0.001, each). Conversely, serum levels of urea (p < 0.001) and sodium (p = 0.021) were significantly lower in the workers' group. No statistically significant difference was observed in serum magnesium levels between the two groups.

Correlation analysis in the workers' group showed a statistically significant negative correlation between urea and TSB (r = −0.446) and a statistically significant positive correlation between urea and Pb (r = 0.578). In addition, TSB correlated significantly and positively with Pb (r = 0.538, p < 0.01) and negatively with Na (r = −0.264, p < 0.05). Pb levels were negatively correlated with Na levels (r = −0.360, p < 0.01).

References

S. M. Correa, G. Arbilla, M. R. Marques, and K. M. Oliveira, “The impact of BTEX emissions from gas stations into the atmosphere,” Atmospheric pollution research, vol. 3, no. 2, pp. 163-169, 2012, doi: https://doi.org/10.5094/APR.2012.016.

F. A. Kuranchie, P. N. Angnunavuri, F. Attiogbe, and E. N. Nerquaye-Tetteh, “Occupational exposure of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene (BTEX) to pump attendants in Ghana: Implications for policy guidance,” Cogent Environmental Science, vol. 5, no. 1, pp. 1603418, 2019, doi: https://doi.org/10.1080/23311843.2019.1603418.

C. P. Weisel, “Benzene exposure: an overview of monitoring methods and their findings,” Chemico-biological interactions, vol. 184, no. 1-2, pp. 58-66, 2010, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cbi.2009.12.030.

B. A. A.-R. Twaij, M. S. Mashkour, and H. K. Al-Hakeim, “Study and Determination of Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor with Some Trace Elements in Fuel Filling Station Workers,” Journal of Petroleum Research and Studies, vol. 10, no. 4, pp. 233-251, 2020, doi: https://doi.org/10.52716/jprs.v10i4.380.

J. Liu, D. Li, Z. Wang, and X. Chai, "A state-of-the-art research progress and prospect of liquid fuel spill fires," Case Studies in Thermal Engineering, vol. 28, Art. no. 101421, 2021, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.csite.2021.101421.

A. Hossain and P. Davies, "Pyrolysis liquids and gases as alternative fuels in internal combustion engines–A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, vol. 21, pp. 165-189, 2013, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2012.12.031.

P. M. L. Sandercock, "Fire investigation and ignitable liquid residue analysis—a review: 2001–2007," Forensic science international, vol. 176, no. 2-3, pp. 93-110, 2008, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.forsciint.2007.09.004.

T. M. Abdellatief, M. A. Ershov, V. M. Kapustin, M. A. Abdelkareem, M. Kamil, and A. G. Olabi, “Recent trends for introducing promising fuel components to enhance the anti-knock quality of gasoline: A systematic review,” Fuel, vol. 291, Art. no. 120112, 2021. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2020.120112.

J. Zhao, Y. Zheng, M. Chen, M. Yang, Q. Ma, and Z. Zhang, "Effect of sampling modes on the discrimination of commercial gasolines using direct analysis in real time mass spectrometry," International Journal of Mass Spectrometry, vol. 463, Art. no. 116568, 2021, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijms.2021.116568.

R. C. Selley, S. A. Sonnenberg, and R. Sonnenberg, “The physical and chemical properties of petroleum,” in Elements of Petroleum Geology, 3rd ed. Oxford, U.K.: Academic Press, 2015, pp. 13–39, doi: 10.1016/B978-0-12-386031-6.00002-3.

S. Pierucci, R. Del Rosso, D. Bombardi, A. Concu, and G. Lugli, "An innovative sustainable process for VOCs recovery from spray paint booths," Energy, vol. 30, no. 8, pp. 1377-1386, 2005, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.energy.2004.02.017.

C. E. Ekpenyong, and A. E. Asuquo, “Recent advances in occupational and environmental health hazards of workers exposed to gasoline compounds,” International journal of occupational medicine and environmental health, vol. 30, no. 1, pp. 1-26, 2017, doi: https://doi.org/10.13075/ijomeh.1896.00800.

E. A. Anigilaje, Z. A. Nasir, and C. Walton, “Exposure to benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene (BTEX) at Nigeria's petrol stations: a review of current status, challenges and future directions,” Frontiers in Public Health, vol. 12, Art. no. 1295758, 2024, doi: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2024.1295758.

M. Gul, "A review of occupational health and safety risk assessment approaches based on multi-criteria decision-making methods and their fuzzy versions," Human and ecological risk assessment: an international journal, vol. 24, no. 7, pp. 1723-1760, 2018, doi: ttps://doi.org/10.1080/10807039.2018.1424531.

M. Al-Harbi, I. Alhajri, A. AlAwadhi, and J. K. Whalen, “Health symptoms associated with occupational exposure of gasoline station workers to BTEX compounds,” Atmospheric Environment, vol. 241, Art. no. 117847, 2020, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2020.117847.

J. Gromadzińska, and W. Wąsowicz, “Health risk in road transport workers part I. occupational exposure to chemicals, biomarkers of effect,” International Journal of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Health, vol. 32, no. 3, 2019, doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.13075/ijomeh.1896.01343.

S. Suh, Y. R. Cho, M. K. Park, D. K. Kim, N. H. Cho, and M.-K. Lee, “Relationship between serum bilirubin levels and cardiovascular disease,” PLoS One, vol. 13, no. 2, Art. no. e0193041, 2018, doi: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0193041.

M. M. El-Eshmawy, N. Mahsoub, M. Asar, and I. Elsehely, “Association between total bilirubin levels and cardio-metabolic risk factors related to obesity,” Endocrine, Metabolic & Immune Disorders-Drug Targets (Formerly Current Drug Targets-Immune, Endocrine & Metabolic Disorders), vol. 22, no. 1, pp. 64-70, 2022, doi: https://doi.org/10.2174/1871530321999210128201259.

S. K. Kunutsor, L. M. Kieneker, S. Burgess, S. J. Bakker, and R. P. Dullaart, “Circulating total bilirubin and future risk of hypertension in the general population: the Prevention of Renal and Vascular End‐Stage Disease (PREVEND) prospective study and a Mendelian randomization approach,” Journal of the American Heart Association, vol. 6, no. 11, Art. no. e006503, 2017, doi: https://doi.org/10.1161/JAHA.117.006503.

L. Vítek and H. A. Schwertner, "The heme catabolic pathway and its protective effects on oxidative stress‐mediated diseases," Advances in clinical chemistry, vol. 43, pp. 1-57, 2007, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0065-2423(06)43001-8.

D. C. Marshall, J. D. Salciccioli, R. J. Goodson, M. A. Pimentel, K. Y. Sun, L. A. Celi, and J. Shalhoub, "The association between sodium fluctuations and mortality in surgical patients requiring intensive care," Journal of critical care, vol. 40, pp. 63-68, 2017, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcrc.2017.02.012.

S. Satarug, G. C. Gobe, D. A. Vesey, and K. R. Phelps, “Cadmium and lead exposure, nephrotoxicity, and mortality,” Toxics, vol. 8, no. 4, Art. no. 86, 2020, doi: https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics8040086.

A. E. A. Moneim, M. A. Dkhil, and S. Al-Quraishy, "The protective effect of flaxseed oil on lead acetate-induced renal toxicity in rats," Journal of hazardous materials, vol. 194, pp. 250-255, 2011, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2011.07.097.

J. B. Pryor, W. M. Bennett, A. Olyaei, J. B. Pryor, W. M. Bennett, and A. Olyaei, “Toxic Nephropathies: Environmental Agents and Metals,” Evidence‐Based Nephrology, vol. 1, pp. 311-327, 2022, doi: https://doi.org/10.1002/9781119105954.ch21.

C. Gundacker, M. Forsthuber, T. Szigeti, R. Kakucs, V. Mustieles, M. F. Fernandez, E. Bengtsen, U. Vogel, K. S. Hougaard, and A. T. Saber, “Lead (Pb) and neurodevelopment: A review on exposure and biomarkers of effect (BDNF, HDL) and susceptibility,” International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health, vol. 238, Art. no. 113855, 2021, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijheh.2021.113855.

J. H. F. De Baaij, J. G. J. Hoenderop, and R. J. M. Bindels, "Magnesium in man: implications for health and disease," Physiological reviews, vol. 95, no. 1, pp. 1-46, 2015, doi: https://doi.org/10.1152/physrev.00012.2014.

A. Rosanoff, "Perspective: US adult magnesium requirements need updating: Impacts of rising body weights and data-derived variance," Advances in Nutrition, vol. 12, no. 2, pp. 298-304, 2021, doi: https://doi.org/10.1093/advances/nmaa140.

A. Gülyüz, "Exploring normal urinary biomarker ratios in a pediatric population: insights into age and gender variations," Journal of Health Sciences and Medicine, vol. 7, no. 1, pp. 110-113, 2024, doi: https://doi.org/10.32322/jhsm.1349549.

M. A. Zoroddu, J. Aaseth, G. Crisponi, S. Medici, M. Peana, and V. M. Nurchi, “The essential metals for humans: a brief overview,” Journal of inorganic biochemistry, vol. 195, pp. 120-129, 2019, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jinorgbio.2019.03.013.

M. Chua, G. E. Hoyle, and R. L. Soiza, "Prognostic implications of hyponatremia in elderly hospitalized patients," Archives of gerontology and geriatrics, vol. 45, no. 3, pp. 253-258, 2007, doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.archger.2006.11.002.

M. R. Barakat, S. H. Elgazzar, and K. M. Hanafy, "Impact of macroeconomic variables on stock markets: Evidence from emerging markets," International journal of economics and finance, vol. 8, no. 1, pp. 195-207, 2016, doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.5539/ijef.v8n1p195.