الفهرس 
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Abstract
This work was conducted in all licensed fuel supply stations in Shebin El-Kom district, Menoufia governorate to study neurobehavioral and hematological health disorders which may arise among workers in these stations.
This study included an exposed group of fuel supply stations’ workers (92) who accepted to participate in the study and a control group from the workers’ relatives who never work in fuel supply stations (92). Both groups were matched for age, sex, residence, marital status, income and educational level.
All participants were interviewed using a predesigned questionnaire about neurological and hematological manifestations. Also, they were examined generally and locally for nervous system. Neurobehavioral tests as well as complete blood counts were carried out for both exposed and controls aiming to assess neurobehavioral disorders and hematological disorders; respectively.
Environmental studies were done by the National Research Center, Air Pollution Department via air sampling (using gas analyzer from the respiratory zone of the workers).
Benzene, toluene, ethyl benzene and xylene isomers (BTEX) are major constitutes of gasoline. They are also used extensively as solvents and feed stocks by the chemical industry.
Occupational exposure to benzene (benzol) has been associated with increased chromosomal aberrations in peripheral blood lymphocytes. Translocations were the most frequently observed chromosomal aberrations.
Workers exposed to toluene and xylene may experience neuropsychological symptoms including headache, fatigue, depression, anxiety,
drunken feelings, insomnia, difficulty in concentrating or remembering, sleepiness, and other cognitive disorders.
The following results were obtained:
• Regarding environmental studies benzene level was higher than that recommended by the Egyptian Ministry of Trade and Industry, Law 4 Decree 1095/2011 and ACGIH (2010).
• Toluene, ethyl benzene and xylene levels were higher than that recommended by ACGIH (2010).
• The prevalence of neurological manifestations (e.g. headache, blurring of vision, nervousness, insomnia, inattention, lack of concentration, paresthesia, weakness and spasm) was statistically higher in the fuel supply stations’ workers than controls. Regarding hematological manifestations the fuel supply stations’ workers experienced significantly higher prevalence of pallor, fatigue and recurrent fever than controls.
• Concerning the mean values of neurobehavioral tests there was a significant lower performance of neurobehavioral tests among fuel supply stations’ workers than the controls.
• Complete blood count findings showed that the mean values of hemoglobin%, red blood corpuscles counts (RBCs), white blood cells counts (WBCs) and platelets counts were significantly lower in fuel supply stations’ workers than controls.
• In order to study the cumulative effect of BTEX components rather than studying the effect of each genuine component; Cumulative Exposure Index was calculated. Cumulative exposure index (CEI) of BTEX components was obtained by multiplication of summation of hazard quotient of (benzene, toluene, ethyl benzene and xylene) by duration of exposure in years.