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Induced cytotoxic damage by exposure to gasoline vapors: a study in Sinaloa, Mexico

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Abstract

Gasoline is a blend of organic compounds used in internal combustion engines. Gasoline-station attendants are exposed to gasoline vapors, which pose a potentially mutagenic risk. According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer, exposure to gasoline and engine exhaust is possibly carcinogenic to humans. We determined the frequency of micronucleus and other nuclear abnormalities, such as pyknotic nuclei, chromatin condensation, cells with nuclear buds, karyolytic cells, karyorrhexis, and binucleated cells in buccal mucosal smears of 60 gasoline-station attendants and 60 unexposed controls. In addition, we explored if factors such as smoking habits, alcohol consumption, and worked years exert an additional synergistic cytotoxic effect. There were statistically significant higher frequencies (p < 0.05) of nuclear abnormalities among exposed attendants compared to the controls. No statistical significant (p > 0.05) additional effect of lifestyle habits such as smoking and alcohol consumption or worked years on the cytotoxicity was observed. The results showed that from the beginning exposure to gasoline vapors increased the frequency of nuclear abnormalities in buccal epithelial cells. Our results provide valuable information on cytotoxic damage for an early pre-symptomatic diagnosis.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Instituto de Investigación en Ambiente y Salud, Universidad de Occidente, Boulevard Macario Gaxiola y Carretera Internacional, Los Mochis, Sinaloa, Mexico

    Carmen Martinez-Valenzuela, Fernanda Balderrama Soto & Luis Daniel Ortega Martínez

  2. Centro de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad Veracruzana, Xalapa, Ver, Mexico

    Stefan M. Waliszewski, Enrique Meza & Mario Caba

  3. Centro de Ciencias de la Atmósfera, UNAM, Circuito Exterior Ciudad Universitaria, 04510, Coyoacán, Mexico

    Sandra Gómez Arroyo

  4. Laboratorio de Genética y Biología Molecular, Maestría en Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Ciencias Químico Biológicas, Universidad Autónoma de Sinaloa, Av. de las Américas y Universitarios s/n Ciudad Universitaria, 80010, Culiacán, Sinaloa, Mexico

    Eliakym Arambula Meraz

Authors
  1. Carmen Martinez-Valenzuela
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  2. Fernanda Balderrama Soto
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  3. Stefan M. Waliszewski
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  4. Enrique Meza
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  5. Sandra Gómez Arroyo
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  6. Luis Daniel Ortega Martínez
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  7. Eliakym Arambula Meraz
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  8. Mario Caba
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Correspondence to Carmen Martinez-Valenzuela.

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Martinez-Valenzuela, C., Soto, F.B., Waliszewski, S.M. et al. Induced cytotoxic damage by exposure to gasoline vapors: a study in Sinaloa, Mexico. Environ Sci Pollut Res 24, 539–546 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-016-7821-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-016-7821-8

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