The Effect of Air Pollutants on liver Enzymes and Pituitary Gland Hormones of Smokers and non-smokers of Oil Refinery and Gas Station Workers in Basra/Iraq

Abstract

Air pollutants that originated from oil refineries and gas pump stations can have a negative effect on human
organs, especially liver and brain. This study focuses on evaluating the pollutants from oil refinery and gas
station on workers’ health by measuring three hepatic enzymes GOT (Glutamic Oxaloacetic Transaminase),
GPT (Glutamic Pyruvic Transaminase), ALP(Alkaline phosphatase) and three pituitary gland hormones LH
(Luteinizing hormone), FSH (Follicle-stimulating hormone), TSH (Thyroid-stimulating hormone). Study groups
were (i) 33 males from Basra oil refinery workers including 16 smoker and 17 non-smoker (ii) 23 male from Gas
station, 11 of them were smoker while the other 12 are non-smoker (iii) 24 male local volunteers from Basra (all
had non-oil related job) as a control group, 12 smoker and 12 non-smokers. All three groups’ subjects had neither
family history of raspatory problems nor diabatic. The results indicated a significance decrease in FSH, LH, TSH
hormones and GPT, ALP enzymes of oil refinery workers, comparing to the control group. The same trend was
also observed among gas station workers, suggesting hepatotoxicity and alternation in pituitary hormones.
Pollutants that circulating around oil industry sites can negatively impact human body especially for those who
work near these locations.