The impact of gasoline exposure on telomeres of gas station workers in Rio de Janeiro

Gasoline contains BTEX solvents (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes), with benzene recognized as a known human carcinogen. Occupational exposure to benzene presents significant health risks for gas station workers, potentially leading to genomic instability and an increased risk of cancer. This study investigated telomere DNA length in leukocytes of 58 gas station workers compared to 58 control subjects. While no overall difference in relative telomere length was observed between the groups, a significant finding emerged in workers with prolonged BTEX exposure (>100 months): their telomeres were longer (p = 0.04). This suggests that long-term exposure may eventually lead to genomic instability. Complementary analysis of telomerase activity in the leukocytes of a subset of workers (n = 9) revealed levels eight times higher than in the control group (n = 9). Notably, one female worker had a history of breast cancer diagnosed 5 years prior, probably linked to carcinogen exposure; and another female worker exhibited a high index of DNA damage, as measured by comet assay, alongside elevated telomerase activity. The transition to biofuel use in vehicles is strongly recommended as a crucial measure to protect the health of these workers and to mitigate the climate change impacts associated with the combustion of fossil fuels.