الفهرس 
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Abstract
Prolonged occupational exposure to gasoline vapors has been reported to cause prominent health hazards primarly related to haemopoietic system. The present study was carried out to assess hematological changes resulted from long-term exposure to gasoline vapors in filling station workers and experimental animals. The study was extended also for evaluating the ameliorative role of broccoli (steamed & cooked) against hematotoxicity in an animal model for chronic exposure to gasoline vapors. Based on this, the study included two groups: Human subjects: Fifty non-smoking males aged (25-40) years; 25 worked at filling stations for at least one year and the other 25 are healthy unexposed subjects. Experimental animals: Thirty six adult male rats (170-180g) were divided into 6 groups (n=6) as follows: Blood samples were collected from both human subjects and rats. Each sample was divided into 3 portions: The 1st portion was collected without anticoagulant to separate serum for biochemical analysis (immunoglobulins and C- reactive protein), while the 2nd portion was collected on EDTA anticoagulant to separate whole blood for complete blood cell count (CBC) and T-cell surface markers (CD4, CD8). The 3rd portion was collected on heparin anticoagulant to separate erythrocyte lysate for assessment of antioxidants and oxidative stress markers. Besides, bone marrow samples were collected from the experimental animals and prepared for biochemical analysis (antioxidants and oxidative stress markers, IL-2, IL-6, TNF-α), in addition to assessment of bone marrow DNA damage through comet assay. Other samples of bone marrow were prepared for histological examination in all tested rat groups. Obtained results can be summarized as: 1- Significant decrease in RBCs, Hb content, MCV, MCH, HCT, as well as total and differential count of WBCs, except neutrophils, that showed significant increase compared to control groups.2-Significant decrease in TAC, GSH concentration, SOD and CAT activities, with increase in MDA and H2O2 concentration were observed in bone marrow of exposed animals.3- Administration of either steamed or cooked broccoli tended to restore all hematological, biochemical and histological alterations achieved through gasoline exposure compared to gasoline exposed-non treated group. Results also showed no significant difference between the effect of both steamed and cooked broccoli regarding these parameters and the other above tested ones, although the highest effect was seen with the steamed one. The study can thus recommend the use of both steamed and cooked broccoli for preventing gasoline-associated hematotoxicity, with particular emphasis of the role of steamed form. Further research is needed to increase knowledge regarding bioactivity of broccoli and to ascertain the beneficial effect of this plant in individuals frequently exposed to gasoline inhalation.