Superoxide Dismutase Levels of Operator Gas Stations in Semarang, Central Java, Indonesia.

Abstract

Air pollutants exposure on the gas station generally comes from motor vehicle emissions, such as toluene, benzene, xylene or polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) compounds. These compounds are metabolized by the liver to form free radicals, thus are harmful to health. Gas station operators have a substantial risk of air pollutants exposure released by motor vehicle emissions. The objective of this research is to find out the levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD) in gas station operator on Semarang, Indonesia. This research was analytic observational cross-sectional study conducted from April to August 2015. The number of samples obtained in this research was 21 gas station operators and 10 volunteers who live in the countryside. Blood SOD levels biochemically determined using Randox kit SOD. The results showed that the average of SOD level in gas station operators was 0.76 u ⋅ mL −1 and volunteers was 0.87 u ⋅ mL −1 . Statistical test results of SOD levels showed the significant value p = 0.860. The SOD levels of gas stations operators are lower than the SOD levels of volunteers who live in the countryside. Gas stations operator does not significantly influence SOD levels.Keywords: gas station operators, pollutants, superoxide dismutase. Nomenclature