Exposure to Vehicle Exhaust Causes Decline in Lung Functions

Abstract

Introduction: Air pollution from vehicles is an inevitable part of the workers at gasoline stations. A long-term exposure to such air pollution of vehicles exhaust would leads to damaging effects on general health and the pulmonary function in particular. A number of studies have found an increased prevalence of respiratory symptoms in populations live near roadways with high traffic counts. Aims and Objectives: The present study was aimed to investigate the extent of pulmonary function changes due to exposure to exhaust vehicles on car maintenance workers at gas stations in Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia. Furthermore, we also assessed the relationship between the duration of the service at the gas stations with pulmonary function decline. Materials and Methods: Twenty males aged from 18-40 years whom working in gas stations as a cars mechanics were recruited in this study. Studied subjects were categorized into two groups, depending on the duration of the exposure (first group > 5-years; second group < 5 years). Pulmonary function parameters were measured as FEV1, FVC and FEV%, using portable spirometry during their working hours. For air pollution, MIRAN SapphIRe Portable Ambiant Analyzer, GrayWolf and Aerosol and Dust Monitors were used and its value was compared with World Health Organization (WHO) and Saudi standards. Results: Shortness of breath, dizziness and chest pain were the most prevalent symptoms among workers. Workers with less than 5 years showed symptoms as follow: 10%, 30% and 25%; while the workers with more than 5 years: 30%, 35% and 30%. FVC (L) and FEV1 (L) data showed significant decrease compared to the control group (ANOVA p=0.006; ANOVA p=0.007), while FEV1% (FEV1/ FVC) value showed significant increase compared to the control group (ANOVA p=0.001). Air pollution data showed a significant increase in dust, NO2, VOC and SO2 comparing with WHO and Saudi Standards. Conclusions: Gasoline fumes showed to have adverse effects on pulmonary functions of car maintenance workers at gas stations especially in lower airways with restrictive type of pulmonary disease. In order to prevent lung damage in car maintenance workers at gas stations, awareness programs should be conducted and periodic medical pulmonary function tests checkups should be conducted to detect any pulmonary function impairment at the earliest.