Estimation of DNA Damages, Cytotoxicity and Antioxidant Status of Heavy Metals and Benzene among Petrol Workers in Baghdad-Iraq

This study was conducted to estimate the genetic damages and cytotoxicity of heavy metals (Zn, Cu, Pb) and benzene on the Al-Dorah refinery and petrol stations workers in Baghdad/Iraq. The results showed no significant differences (P 0.01) between the levels of these heavy metals in the serum of both groups and control. Lead (Pb) showed a significant level in the refinery workers serum (0.92±0.043 ppm). The toxicity of lead and benzene on workers was clearly seen in the genetic parameters used in this study. The mitotic index (MI), nuclear division cytotoxicity index (NDCI) and micronuclei (MN) were significantly high (8.02±0.32, 4.1±0.67, 10.63±2.63, respectively) in the exposed workers in the refinery workers and workers with a long exposed period (12.23±0.29, 6.2±0.95, 12.5±1.75, respectively). The results also showed a correlated increase between NDCI and binucleated ratio and between NDCI and MN where the NDCI increased with the increasing of binucleated cells percentage and mitotic index in the exposed groups indicating a double activity in the lymphocytes cell division and increasing in DNA damages. This made, these parameters are as a good indicators to estimate the genotoxicity in lymphocytes. Apoptotic and necrotic cells were also recorded in high numbers in the exposed groups. LDH and ALP enzymes were also detected in a high levels (P=0.01) in the expose