Adverse Health Effects of Benzene Exposure Among Children Following a Flaring Incident at the British Petroleum Refinery in Texas City

2015 ◽  
Vol 55 (3) ◽  
pp. 219-227 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark A. D’Andrea ◽  
G. Kesava Reddy
Keyword(s):  
Health Effects ◽  
Petroleum Refinery ◽  
British Petroleum ◽  
Benzene Exposure ◽  
Adverse Health Effects ◽  
Adverse Health ◽  
Texas City

Health Risks Among Adults after a Prolonged Flaring Incident at the British Petroleum Plant in Texas City

Blood ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 124 (21) ◽  
pp. 5981-5981
Author(s):  
Mark D'Andrea ◽  
Ajay Mitter ◽  
G. Kesava Reddy
Keyword(s):  
Health Effects ◽  
Conflicts Of Interest ◽  
White Blood Cells ◽  
Serum Levels ◽  
British Petroleum ◽  
Benzene Exposure ◽  
Hematopoietic Malignancies ◽  
Adverse Health Effects ◽  
Liver Markers ◽  
Texas City

Abstract Objective: Human exposure to benzene is associated with multiple adverse health effects including hematopoietic malignancies, respiratory irritation, and immune system alterations and central nervous system abnormalities. The purpose of this study is to examine health effects of a benzene exposure among adult subjects from a prolonged flaring incident at the British petroleum (BP) refinery in the Texas City, Texas. Methods: The study included adults aged 18 years or older who had been exposed and unexposed to benzene. Using medical charts, clinical data including white blood cells (WBC), platelets, hemoglobin, hematocrit, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), creatinine, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), aspartate amino transferase (AST), and alanine amino transferase (ALT) in adults exposed to benzene were reviewed and analyzed and compared with unexposed adults. Results: A total of 2213 adult subjects (benzene exposed, n=1826 and unexposed, n=387) were included. Benzene exposed subjects had significantly higher levels of WBC (X 103 per µL) counts (7.9±2.3 versus 6.8±1.6, P=0.0000) and platelet (X 103 per µL) counts (270.8±60.9 versus 242.5±53.7, P=0.0.0000) compared with the unexposed subjects. The mean serum creatinine levels (mg/dL) were also significantly increased in the benzene exposed group compared with the unexposed group (1.0 ±0.2 versus 0.8±0.2, P=0.000). Serum levels of ALP (IU/L) was significantly elevated in the benzene exposed subjects compared with the unexposed subjects (82.1±15.6 versus 71.8±8.2, P=0.000). Similarly, benzene exposed subjects had significantly higher levels of AST and ALT compared with those unexposed to benzene. Conclusion: Together, the results of the study reveal that Benzene exposure from the prolonged BP flaring incident caused significant alterations in their hematological and liver markers indicating that adult subjects exposed to benzene may be at a higher risk of developing hepatic or blood related disorders. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Health Consequences Of Benzene Exposure Among Children Following a Flaring Incident At Petroleum Refinery In Texas City

Blood ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 122 (21) ◽  
pp. 4667-4667
Author(s):  
Mark D'Andrea ◽  
Ajay Mitter ◽  
G. Kesava Reddy
Keyword(s):  
Conflicts Of Interest ◽  
Petroleum Refinery ◽  
Chemical Exposure ◽  
Health Consequences ◽  
British Petroleum ◽  
Adverse Health Effects ◽  
Altered Blood ◽  
Symptom Complaints ◽  
Texas City ◽  
Blood Profiles

Objective Human exposure to benzene is associated with multiple adverse health effects leading to hematological malignancies. The objective of this retrospective study was to evaluate the health consequences of benzene and other toxic chemical exposure in children following a flaring incident at the British petroleum refinery in the Texas City, Texas. Methods The study included children aged < 17 years who had been exposed and unexposed to benzene due to a flaring incident at the British petroleum refinery facility. Using medical charts, clinical data including white blood cell (WBC) counts, platelets counts, hemoglobin, hematocrit, blood urea nitrogen (BUN,) creatinine, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), aspartate amino transferase (AST), alanine amino transferase (ALT), and somatic symptom complaints by the children exposed to benzene were reviewed and analyzed. Results A total of 312 subjects (benzene exposed, n=157 and unexposed, n=155) were included. Hematologic analysis showed that WBC counts were significantly decreased in benzene exposed children compared with the unexposed children (6.8 ± 2.1 versus 7.3 ± 1.7, P=0.022). Conversely, platelet (X 103 per µL) counts were increased significantly in the benzene exposed group compared with the unexposed group (278.4 ± 59.9 versus 261.6 ± 51.7, P=0.005). Similarly, benzene exposed children had significantly higher levels of ALP (183.7± 95.6 versus 165 ± 70.3 IU/L, P=0.04), AST (23.6 ± 15.3versus 20.5 ± 5.5 IU/L, P = 0.015), and ALT (19.2 ± 7.8 versus 16.9 ± 6.9 IU/L, P=0.005) compared with the unexposed children. Conclusion Together, the results of the study reveal that children exposed to benzene experienced significantly altered blood profiles, liver enzymes and somatic symptoms indicating that children exposed to benzene are at a higher risk of developing hepatic or blood related disorders. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

scholarly journals Factors Affecting Adverse Health Effects of Gasoline Station Workers

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (19) ◽  
pp. 10014
Author(s):  
Umakorn Tongsantia ◽  
Sunisa Chaiklieng ◽  
Pornnapa Suggaravetsiri ◽  
Sari Andajani ◽  
Herman Autrup
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Health Effects ◽  
Nasal Congestion ◽  
Training Experience ◽  
Muconic Acid ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Benzene Exposure ◽  
Adverse Health Effects ◽  
Gasoline Station ◽  
Adverse Health

This cross-sectional study examined the risk factors affecting adverse health effects from benzene exposure among gasoline station workers in Khon Kean province, Thailand. An interview questionnaire of adverse symptoms relating to benzene toxicity was administered to 151 workers. Area samplings for benzene concentration and spot urine for tt-muconic acid (tt-MA), a biomarker of benzene exposure, were collected. The factors associated with adverse symptoms were analysed by using multiple logistic regression. It was found that these symptoms mostly affected fuelling workers (77.5%), and the detected air benzene reached an action level or higher than 50% of NIOSH REL (>50 ppb). The top five adverse symptoms, i.e., fatigue, headache, dizziness, nasal congestion, and runny nose, were reported among workers exposed to benzene. More specific symptoms of benzene toxicity were chest pain, bleeding/epistaxis, and anaemia. The detected tt-MA of workers was 506.7 ug/g Cr (IQR), which was a value above the BEI and higher than that of asymptomatic workers. Risk factors significantly associated with adverse symptoms, included having no safety training experience (ORadj = 5.22; 95% CI: 2.16–12.58) and eating during work hours (ORadj = 16.08; 95% CI: 1.96–131.74). This study urges the tightening of health and safety standards at gasoline stations to include training and eating restrictions while working in hazardous areas.

scholarly journals Health Risks Associated With Benzene Exposure in Children: A Systematic Review

2018 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
pp. 2333794X1878927 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark A. D’Andrea ◽  
G. Kesava Reddy
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Health Effects ◽  
Health Risks ◽  
Clinical Findings ◽  
Laboratory Findings ◽  
Benzene Exposure ◽  
Adverse Health Effects ◽  
Pulmonary Functions ◽  
Adverse Health ◽  
Pediatric Populations

Currently, there is a paucity of studies evaluating the adverse health effects of benzene exposure in children or clinical findings of those children who have been exposed. However, emerging studies show that benzene exposure can cause deleterious health effects in children. The objective of this study was to evaluate and summarize published studies on the adverse health effects of benzene exposure in children. More than 77 articles were examined and only the articles that dealt with adverse health effects on pediatric populations were included in the study. The evaluation of those studies provided current understanding of the health effects of benzene exposure in children. Findings from the currently available studies reveal that benzene exposure is associated with abnormalities in hematologic, hepatic, respiratory, and pulmonary functions in children. Published studies clearly support the need for further assessment of the potential adverse effects of benzene exposure in children, and clinical and laboratory findings of these children.

scholarly journals Study protocol for a randomised controlled trial examining the effect of blood and plasma donation on serum perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) levels in firefighters

BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. e044833
Author(s):  
Gabriel Silver ◽  
Yordanka Krastev ◽  
Miriam K Forbes ◽  
Brenton Hamdorf ◽  
Barry Lewis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Randomised Controlled Trial ◽  
Health Effects ◽  
Whole Blood ◽  
Sulfonic Acid ◽  
Controlled Trial ◽  
Adverse Health Effects ◽  
Plasma Donation ◽  
Adverse Health ◽  
Study Results ◽  
Randomised Controlled

IntroductionPerfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a diverse group of compounds that have been used in hundreds of industrial applications and consumer products including aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) for many years. Multiple national and international health and environmental agencies have accepted that PFAS exposures are associated with numerous adverse health effects. Australian firefighters have been shown to have elevated levels of PFAS in their blood, specifically perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) and perfluorohexane sulfonic acid (PFHxS), due to the historical use of AFFF. While PFAS concentrations decline over time once the source of exposure has been removed, their potential adverse health effects are such that it would be prudent to develop an intervention to lower levels at a faster rate than occurs via natural elimination rates.Methods and analysisThis is a randomised controlled trial of current and former Australian firefighters in the Metropolitan Fire Brigade/Fire Rescue Victoria, and contractors, with previous occupational exposure to PFAS and baseline elevated PFOS levels. The study is investigating whether whole blood donation every 12 weeks or plasma donation every 6 weeks will significantly reduce PFAS levels, compared with a control group. We have used covariate-adaptive randomisation to balance participants’ sex and blood PFAS levels between the three groups and would consider a 25% reduction in serum PFOS and PFHxS levels to be potentially clinically significant after 12 months of whole blood or plasma donation. A secondary analysis of health biomarkers is being made of changes between screening and week 52 in all three groups.Ethics and disseminationThis trial has been approved by Macquarie University Human Research Ethics Committee (reference number: 3855), final protocol V.2 dated 12 June 2019. Study results will be disseminated via peer-reviewed publications and presentations at conferences.Trial registration numberAustralian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ACTRN12619000204145).

Disrupting the Flow of Perception-Action through Design

2021 ◽  
pp. 105971232198909
Author(s):  
Harry Heft
Keyword(s):  
Cultural History ◽  
Health Effects ◽  
Sense Of Place ◽  
Attentional Focus ◽  
Good Design ◽  
Adverse Health Effects ◽  
Adverse Health ◽  
Directed Action ◽  
Perception Action

It is usually a mark of good design when technologies and tools that mediate goal-directed action are such that the user’s attentional focus is maintained on the intended ends of action rather than on the technologies and tools themselves. When the mediators become the focus, the continuity of goal-directed action is disrupted, and the flow of action can be re-directed. What then is the purpose of the projects designed by the RAAAF studio, as described by Rietveld, which seem to be intended to do both? Disruption of the continuity of goal-directed perception-action may prompt reflection about the circumstances at work, and in so doing provoke a transformation in habitual patterns of action and of thought. The project “The End of Sitting” is intended to remediate the adverse health effects of standard chair-dominated offices through an unconventional office landscape that prompts intermittent postural readjustments, boosting the levels of activity common in such settings. The project “Bunker 599” demonstrates that seemingly unremarkable features of the landscape can sometimes conceal aspects of culture’s history, and that design can function to draw attention to a hidden and even vanishing history. Design can enrich an individual’s sense of place in a stream of cultural history.

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