To Evaluate the Prolonged exposure to BTEX Compounds on human genetics

Inhalation of pollutants such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs) has been shown to have many side-effects on human health. A group referred to as BTEX (benzene, toluene, ethyl benzene and the three isomers of xylene) has been found to be potentially hazardous to environmental and human health. These volatile chemicals are genotoxic compounds. Inhaling these volatile compounds can produce DNA damage in the form of strand breaks. If the level of such DNA damage is high, result in somatic mutations and also in certain genetic effects and it can produce pathological changes in various tissues or systems in the body. This may be carried over to subsequent generations. Hence it is highly important to test the chemical compounds in the environment of man for their mutagenicity. In the present study clearly indicates that the level of DNA damage in petrol pump workers is significantly high, if such damage persists in them it may leads to clinical problems. They should take preventive measures to reduce the exposure to such vapor and thereby avoid clinical problems in future.