International Journal of Preventive Medicine (Int J Prev Med)2008-780210112020022521852185ENDepartment of Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Islamic Azad University, Shahreza Branch, ShahrezaDepartment of Clinical Nutrition, School of Nutrition and Food Science, Food Security Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, IsfahanDepartment of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan20200212<p><span class="fontstyle0"><strong>Background</strong>: </span><span class="fontstyle2">The aim of this study was to assess the effects of long‑term exposure to VOCs on<br />employees’ clinical parameters in one of the main petroleum centers in Iran. </span></p><p><span class="fontstyle0"><strong>Methods</strong>: </span><span class="fontstyle2">In this<br />case‑control study, 80 operational and administrative employees with 8–15 years of work experience<br />were considered as the case and control groups. Liver function was evaluated by measuring serum<br />alanine transaminase (ALT) activity and lipid profile was measured. Gas chromatography‑mass<br />spectrometry (GC‑MS) was used to analyze the VOCs levels at the workplace. </span></p><p><span class="fontstyle0"><strong>Results</strong>: </span><span class="fontstyle2">There were<br />increased levels of serum ALT (</span><span class="fontstyle3">P </span><span class="fontstyle2">= 0.003), triglycerides (</span><span class="fontstyle3">P </span><span class="fontstyle2">= 0.015), total cholesterol (</span><span class="fontstyle3">P </span><span class="fontstyle2">= 0.003), and<br />LDL‑C (</span><span class="fontstyle3">P </span><span class="fontstyle2">= 0.010) among the operational staffs compared to the administrative staffs. Assessment<br />of the relationship between worksite pollutants and ALT levels revealed that there were significant<br />positive relationship between benzene (</span><span class="fontstyle3">r </span><span class="fontstyle2">= 0.45, </span><span class="fontstyle3">P </span><span class="fontstyle2">= 0.004) and styrene (</span><span class="fontstyle3">r </span><span class="fontstyle2">= 0.37, </span><span class="fontstyle3">P </span><span class="fontstyle2">= 0.034) with<br />increased ALT concentrations. </span></p><p><span class="fontstyle0"><strong>Conclusions</strong>: </span><span class="fontstyle2">VOC exposure could be contributed to reduced liver<br />function and impaired lipid profile. Therefore, proper preventive strategies seem to be necessary for<br />reducing hazardous exposure.<br /></span></p><p><span class="fontstyle0" style="color: #00652e;"><strong>Keywords</strong>: </span><span class="fontstyle3">Lipid profile, liver enzyme, petrochemical employees, volatile organic compounds</span></p>http://ijpm.mui.ac.ir/index.php/ijpm/article/view/2185http://ijpm.mui.ac.ir/index.php/ijpm/article/download/2185/717718076