Evaluation of the effects of BTEX compounds on serum lipid parameters of Abadan Oil Refining Company employees in 1400

BTEX compounds cause adverse effects on the health of employees in various industries, including the oil industry. This study was conducted with the aim of measuring these compounds and their effect on serum lipid parameters of Abadan oil refinery workers.

In this study, 80 workers (40 exposed people from operational units and 40 non-exposed people from administrative departments) were investigated. Sampling and measurement of employees’ respiratory area was done using individual sampling pump and measurement of lipid parameters of employees’ blood was done using commercial kits of Pars Azmoun company.

The obtained results showed that the average concentration of toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene compounds in the respiratory area of the exposed employees was lower than the standard limit, but the average concentration of benzene compound was higher than the recommended standard limit. The results obtained from the comparison of blood serum lipid parameters showed that there is no significant difference between the two groups of exposed and non-exposed employees. The results of Spearman’s test did not find any significant relationship between these parameters and demographic characteristics in the two groups. However, Pearson’s statistical test showed that there is a significant relationship between some blood serum lipid parameters in two groups, and in both groups of employees, the average blood plasma lipid parameter was higher than the normal range.

The results showed that the concentration of benzene compound is higher than the permissible limit of the standards and the effect of benzene on employees should be prevented with adequate engineering and management controls and periodic inspection.