Assessment of health effects in workers at gasoline station

Abstract

The aim of this study was to made assessment of health effects in 37 workers exposed to gasoline, and its constituents at gasoline stations between 1985 and 1996. Thirty-seven persons who had been exposed to gasoline for more than five years were examined. The evaluation included a medical / occupational history, haematological and biochemical examination, a physical exam, standardized psychological tests, and ultrasound examination of kidneys and liver. The groups were identical in other common parameters including age, gender (all men), and level of education (P<0. 05). The data were compared to two control groups: 61 healthy non-exposed controls and 25 workers at gasoline stations exposed to organic lead for only nine months. Peripheral smear revealed basophilic stippling and reticulocytosis. We found in chronic exposed gasoline workers haematological disorders: mild leukocytosis (7 of 37), lymphocytosis (20 of 37), mild lymhocytopenia (3 of 37), and decrease of red blood cells count (11 of 37). Results indicated that they have suffered from liver disorders: lipoid degeneration of liver (14 of 37), chronic functional damages of liver (3 of 37), cirrhosis (1 of 37). Ultrasound examination indicated chronic kidney damages (8 of 37). These results significantly differed from those of controls (P< 0.05). In 13 out of 37 workers at gasoline stations exposed to gasoline for more than 5 years the symptom of depression and decreased reaction time and motor abilities were identified. The summary of diseases of workers exposed to organic lead and gasoline are discussed.

Evaluation of Genotoxicity in Petrol Station Workers in South India Using Micronucleus Assay

“…Although people are exposed to gasoline fumes during fuelling and refueling at gas stations, the gas station attendants are at higher risk of exposure by virtue of their occupation 7) . Also, the atmospheric concentration of gasoline vapor is not safe when inhaled even for a brief period of time and during fuelling of vehicles; the concentration of gasoline vapor in the air is recorded to reach between 20 and 200 ppm 7,8) . This concentration can get higher when there is a long line of cars to be fuelled, which is a usual occurrence during fuel scarcity.…”

Overview of Occupational Exposure to Petroleum Derivatives and Risk of Anemia in Petrol Station Workers

“…Mostly environmental and physiological factors of petroleum fumes attributable to exposure to affect blood parameters and the resultant effect is stress in the animals exposed. The hematopoietic components in the red marrow are destroy or inhibit by toxic fumes (Pranjic et al, 2002). Petroleum derivatives are recognized to cause chromosomal aberrations at high occupational doses (Zhang et al2002).…”

Evaluation of blood lead, cadmium, chromium and total antioxidant levels of car park workers

“…| Otopark çal›flanlar›nda kan kurflun, kadmiyum, krom ve total antioksidan düzeyinin de¤erlendirilmesi r›nda yan etki görülebilen en üst de¤er al›nd›. [4] Buna gö-re; >250 μg/Lt yüksek kan kurflun de¤eri, >5 μg/Lt yüksek kan kadmiyum de¤eri, >1.5 μg/Lt yüksek kan krom de¤e-ri olarak kabul edildi.…”

“…5 y›l-dan fazla süre ile benzine maruz kalanlarda depresyon, aktivite ve motor performans düflüklü¤ü saptanm›flt›r. [4] Antioksidan maddeler canl› hücrelerde protein, lipid, karbohidrat ve DNA oksidasyonunu önler ya da yavafllat›rlar; bu olay antioksidan savunma ad›n› al›r. Hücre d›fl› ortamda ise E ve C vitaminleri, transferrin, haptoglobin, serüloplazmin, albümin, bilirübin, karoten, ürik asit, glü-koz, sistein, trakeobronfliyal mukus, α-1 antitripsin ve bir ölçüde de enzimler antioksidan savunmada rol al›rlar.…”