Abstract
The main volatile organic compounds found at gasoline stations are benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene isomers (BTEX). They cause several harmful effects on human health. Regulatory Norm 7 (1978) provides that, in Brazil, biological monitoring of toluene and xylene is carried out by measuring the urinary metabolites hippuric acid (HA) and methylhippuric acid (MHA), respectively. The objective of this study was to assess the exposure to toluene and xylene and to identify related signs and symptoms in gasoline station workers. A cross-sectional epidemiological study was conducted with workers occupationally exposed to fuels. These gasoline station workers were divided into two groups: 94 workers exposed mainly by inhalation (convenience store workers (CSWs)) and 181 workers exposed by inhalation and dermal route (filling station attendants (FSAs)). A comparison group was formed by 119 workers not occupationally exposed to fuels (office workers (OWs)). Workers exposed to fuels had higher average levels of these exposure biomarkers (HA and MHA), which were also higher in convenience store workers than in filling station attendants. In addition, individuals exposed to the solvents present in gasoline had altered mood/depression, cramps, dizziness, drowsiness, headaches, irritability/nervousness, weakness, weight loss, and other symptoms more frequently and had higher urinary levels of HA and MHA compared to the comparison group. Gasoline station workers showed high levels of HA and MHA, reflecting high occupational exposure to the solvents toluene and xylene present in gasoline, demonstrating that changes in the current legislation and in the work environment are necessary to ensure better health protection for these workers.
Highlights
Gasoline station is establishments that retail liquid fuels derived from petroleum, alcohol, and other automotive fuels, with equipment available for their measurement and storage [1]. is process, associated with gasoline distribution, can be an important source for emission of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) [2], with benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene isomers (BTEX), the main volatile hydrocarbons originating from petroleum. e intense use of fuels added to the high evaporation rates is the main factor of atmospheric pollution, especially in occupational environments such as gasoline stations, due to the proximity of the emission source [3, 4]
Geographic Characteristics of Regions. e present study was carried out at gasoline stations located in the Center and the South Zone of the City of Rio de Janeiro. e central area of Rio de Janeiro is predominantly commercial, consisting of tall buildings, old houses, and population aggregation such as small- and medium-sized communities. is region contains the main roads that connect the city to expressways, which results in intense vehicle traffic. e South Zone region is an area of great real estate appreciation [22], with high infrastructure standards
Geraldino and collaborators [29] with the same study population assessed benzene exposure levels and showed that the FSA had average values about twice as high of t, t-MA (0.219 mg/g creatinine; 95% CI 0.174–0.264) compared to OW (0.126 mg/g creatinine; 95% CI 0.0817–0.1693). e levels of T, t-MA were higher in workers of CSWs on gasoline only by inhalation (0.267 mg/g creatinine; 95% CI 0.157–0.376) than those exposed to gasoline by inhalation and dermal, attending gas stations (0.195 mg/g creatinine; 95% CI 0.155–0.235) [29]. Among those exposed to the solvents toluene and xylene present in gasoline, the levels of hippuric acid (HA) and methylhippuric acid (MHA) were almost all higher among CSWs than in the FSA group
Summary
E objective of this study was to assess the exposure to toluene and xylene and to identify related signs and symptoms in gasoline station workers. Workers exposed to fuels had higher average levels of these exposure biomarkers (HA and MHA), which were higher in convenience store workers than in filling station attendants. Individuals exposed to the solvents present in gasoline had altered mood/depression, cramps, dizziness, drowsiness, headaches, irritability/nervousness, weakness, weight loss, and other symptoms more frequently and had higher urinary levels of HA and MHA compared to the comparison group. Gasoline station workers showed high levels of HA and MHA, reflecting high occupational exposure to the solvents toluene and xylene present in gasoline, demonstrating that changes in the current legislation and in the work environment are necessary to ensure better health protection for these workers
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