Petrol Attendants Research Articles

Leucocytes and CD4 Counts of Petrol Attendants in Ekpoma, Edo State, Nigeria

Leucocytes and CD4 Counts of Petrol Attendants in Ekpoma, Edo State, Nigeria

Levels of some reproductive hormones, cadmium and lead among fuel pump attendants in Benin City, Nigeria

Infertility is a common public health challenge in Nigeria. The causes of infertility in both males and females are multifactorial, and the contributions of endocrine abnormalities had been reported from both the Northern and Southern regions of Nigeria. The effect of occupational exposure on endocrine levels among petrol pump attendants has not been sufficiently documented in our setting. This study evaluated the levels of reproductive hormones, blood cadmium, and lead among fuel pump attendants in Benin City. A total of 60 petrol attendants and 30 healthy non-occupationally exposed subjects were recruited for the study. A blood specimen was collected and evaluated for follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), progesterone, estrogen, and testosterone as well as blood cadmium and lead using ELISA and Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS) respectively. Serum levels of FSH, LH, estradiol, progesterone and testosterone were significantly lower among fuel attendants than non-occupationally exposed control subjects. The mean levels of blood cadmium and lead were significantly higher among fuel attendants than controls. Reproductive hormone levels significantly correlated with the duration of exposure to petrol fumes, FSH (r=-0.50, p=0.001), LH (r=-0.52, p=0.001), estradiol (r=0.32, p=0.009), progesterone (r=-0.35, p=0.005) and testosterone (r=-0.48, p=0.001). Blood cadmium and lead correlated negatively with reproductive hormones except between lead with estradiol (r=0.14, p=0.276) which was positively correlated. The levels of measured reproductive hormones were significantly lower, while cadmium and lead were significantly higher in fuel attendants than non- occupationally exposed control subjects. Exposure to petroleum fumes may be a risk factor and may be associated with reproductive hormone abnormalities. Personal protective devices should be worn by petrol attendants in order to avoid the adverse consequences of the observed abnormalities. Key words: Sex hormones, fuel pump attendants, occupational exposure.

Effect of occupational hazards and safety practices among petrol attendants in Nigeria

Abstract Background The petrol station attendants are the first point of contact to customers who visit the station to purchase fuel. They encounter several health hazard and health problems while working. This study was conducted to determine the occupational hazards, health problems and safety practices of petrol station attendants and subsequently to train the PSAs on the identified occupational hazard, associated health problems and safety practices while working. Methods This is an intervention study carried out among all consenting attendants working in filling stations owned by independent petroleum marketers in Enugu. Data was collected using semi structured interviewer-administered questionnaire cast in English language. The data was analyzed using statistical package for social sciences version 23. Descriptive and inferential statistics were calculated. Level of significance was set at 5%. Results A total of 400 respondents participated in the study. The mean age of respondents was 24.3 ± 4.6 years for the male and female respectively. Hazards reported included inhalation of petrol fumes, confrontation from customers, armed robbery attack and noise. Health problems reported included headache, low back pain, sciatic pain, muscle spasm, eye irritation, dizziness, cough and nausea. Awareness about the correct use of personal protective equipment was very poor prior to the intervention but increased up to 94.5% immediately after the intervention. The results of this study shows that the PSAs who participated in this study were exposed to various health hazards. Awareness and use of PPE was very poor prior to the commencement of this study but significantly increased after the intervention. Conclusions Therefore, it's important to engage various stakeholders in this sector to ensure that owners of filling stations take responsibility for the health safety of their workers and ensure regular health education on safety practices. Key messages This study was conducted to determine the occupational hazards, health problems and safety practices of petrol station attendants and to train them. Relevant means and standard deviation were calculated. Inferential statistics were calculated using t-test, analysis of variance and Chi-square test.

Assessment of changes in cardiovascular parameters among petrol pump attendants in Ughelli, Delta State Nigeria

Petrol pump attendants are group of workers that are daily exposed to petrol fumes across petrol filling stations in major cities within Nigeria and sub-Sahara Africa. The objective of this study is to evaluate the effect of petrol fumes on changes in some cardiovascular parameters among petrol pump attendants in Ughelli, Delta State Nigeria by measuring arterial blood pressure and calculating pulse and mean arterial pressure of 150 petrol attendants with age, sex matched control within Ughelli metropolis and its environs. Data obtained show that the arterial blood pressure, pulse and mean arterial pressure ranged from 108/60 - 140/92, 48 - 80 and 76 - 126 mmHg respectively. The result also revealed that mean arterial pressure significantly (p<0.05) increase in the petrol pump attendant. More so, the systolic and diastolic blood pressure increased in a duration of exposure dependent manner with significance (p<0.05) in petrol pump attendants working for more than five years. The mean arterial pressure was significantly (p<0.05) increased in subjects working as petrol pump attendants for less than five years and five years or more. Data also showed that the pulse pressure was not adversely affected in the petrol pump attendants. In conclusion, this study has established that there are changes in cardiovascular parameters of petrol pump attendants as shown with an increase in systolic, diastolic and mean arterial pressure.Keywords: Assessment, Cardiovascular Parameters, Petrol pump attendants

Evaluation of Parasites as Contaminants of Currency Notes in Akure, Nigeria

Background: Currency notes are used as a means of exchange during buying and selling of goods and commodities; thereby making them agents of disease transmission. Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the rate of contamination posed on these currency notes in Akure metropolis by parasites. Materials and Methods: A total of 160 different naira notes (5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 500 and 1000) were collected from food vendors, butchers, petrol attendants and fishmongers into transparent containers and transported to the laboratory. Based on the physical appearances of the notes, they were categorized as mint, clean, dirty, very dirty and mutilated. Standard parasitological techniques were employed to detect parasitic organisms on the notes. Results: Of the 160 naira notes examined, 106 (66.3%) harbored eggs and other stages of the parasites. Mint notes did not harbor any parasite. 14 (70%) of clean notes, 31 (62%) of dirty notes, 61 (74.4) of very dirty and mutilated notes were contaminated, respectively. Parasites recovered from naira notes included Enterobius vermicularis (19.8%), Hookworm (8.5%), Giardia lamblia (22.6%), Ascaris lumbricoides (77.4%), Hymenolepis nana (21.7%), Strongyloides stercoralis (10.4%), Trichuris trichiura (25.5%), Isospora belli (2.8%), Entamoeba histolytica (87.7%), Balantidium coli (34%) and flagellates (7.5%). We found that 5, 50 and 100 naira notes had the highest contamination (45%) while 20 and 1000 naira notes had the least contamination (35% each). The results showed that there was a significant difference between the sources of the collection (P<0.05). Conclusion: Citizens should be educated on ways of handling money through personal hygiene by not abusing, mishandling or mutilating the currency notes.

Assessment of Cadmium, Lead and Mercury Levels on Petrol Attendants and Welders in Obio-Akpor and Phalga in Rivers State

Assessment of Cadmium, Lead and Mercury Levels on Petrol Attendants and Welders in Obio-Akpor and Phalga in Rivers State

Analysis of Oxidative Stress in Chronic Exposure to Petroleum Hydrocarbons in Karnataka, India

Background:Several studies have reported the toxicological implications of inhalation of petroleum hydrocarbon fumes in animal models. But, there is certainly little or no documentation of the exposure to petroleum hydrocarbon fuel on oxidative stress levels in humans, unlike the pulmonary physiology. The present study was carried out to evaluate the effects of constituents of the hydrocarbon fuels on oxidative stress levels of the petrol fillers and tanker drivers. Methods: The study involved 165 males divided into three groups were the petrol fillers, tanker drivers and the controls. Case control data set was established wherein the control subjects are not exposed to hydrocarbon fuels with similar age. Serum samples of the subjects were collected and subjected for various biochemical assays. The enzymatic antioxidants such as superoxide dismutase, malondialdehyde a byproduct of lipid peroxidation and total antioxidant capacity of the individuals along with non-enzymatic antioxidant Vitamin A was estimated. Results: The results showed a no significant differences for age, body mass index, superoxide dismutase and levels of Malondialdehyde and total antioxidant capacity. But on the other hand, there is significant changes observed for total antioxidant capacity and vitamin A when exposed group is compared with control subject. Conclusion: It is evidential from the present study that prolonged exposure to petroleum hydrocarbon fumes leads to an increase in their oxidative stress in turn resulting broad spectrum of diseases. Hence, there is a raised need for public awareness about the health hazards in order to enable petrol attendants.

Petrol exposure and DNA integrity of peripheral lymphocytes.

To determine the effect of petrol exposure on DNA integrity in peripheral blood lymphocytes among petrol attendants and a non-exposed comparison population. This cross-sectional study included 101 fuel station employees and 50 office-based non-exposed workers in Durban, South Africa. Participants were interviewed using a validated questionnaire. Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral lymphocytes for the benzo(a)pyrene diol epoxide (BPDE)-DNA adduct assay (ELISA), and DNA damage was determined using the comet assay and reported as percentage tail DNA. The exposed (n=101) and non-exposed participants (n=50) varied with regard to age, housing, smoking, and proximity to industry and petrol stations. Among the exposed, the mean duration of employment in the fuel industry was 5.8years (SD=4.6), and among those pumping fuel (n=75), the mean metric tons of petrol pumped in the past 12months per worker was 199.2 (SD=88.9). The mean percentage tail DNA varied significantly between exposed and non-exposed groups: 23.8% (SD=13.3) and 8.1% (SD=1.8) (p<0.01), respectively. A significant difference existed between the groups for BPDE-DNA adducts: 30.0ng/ml (SD=12.7) and 18.1ng/ml (SD=18.2) (p<0.0001), respectively. Regression models, adjusting for cigarette smoking, age, and sex, showed a 16.5 greater percentage tail DNA among the exposed compared to non-exposed (95% CI11.8-21.1%), while the exposed group had a 12.9ng/ml greater increase in BPDE-DNA adducts has compared to the unexposed (95% CI7.2-18.7ng/ml). Cigarette smoking resulted in almost a 3.5% increase in percentage tail DNA. Our study adds to the literature that long-term, low-dose exposure to vehicular fuels is likely to result in altered DNA integrity and genotoxicity among petrol attendants. These results strengthen the case that these workers must be afforded appropriate protection to prevent serious adverse outcomes.

Effect of Exposure to Petroleum Fumes on Plasma Antioxidant Defense System in Petrol Attendants

Several studies have reported toxicological implications of inhalational exposure to petrol fumes in animal models; however, there is little or no documentation on the probable effect of exposure in human subjects. This study investigated the relationship between exposure to petrol fumes and lipid peroxidation and antioxidant levels among petrol station attendants in Ibadan, South-West Nigeria A total of 150 subjects consisting of 100 petrol attendants and 50 control subjects were recruited. Ten mL of blood was collected from ante-cubital vein of subjects for analysis. Results reveal that exposure to petrol fumes is associated with oxidative stress. Significant (p<0.001) elevation of malondialdehyde was associated with marked decreases in superoxide dismutase (p<0.01), catalase (p<0.001) and glutathione (p<0.05) when compared with the control. Chain breaking antioxidant vitamins results include significant (p<0.05) decreases in vitamin E and no significant difference in vitamin C (p>0.05) when compared with control. Also there was a significant decrease in total protein (p<0.05) but no significant difference in albumin (p>0.05) in petrol attendants compared with the control. Our findings imply that exposure to petroleum fumes is a risk factor and is associated with oxidative stress which raises the need for public awareness about the health hazards in order to enable petrol attendants to take necessary precautionary measures.

Beyond the Smile and Wave of Petrol Attendants: A Case Study on Male Petrol Attendants’ Use of Emotional Labour

ABSTRACT In many occupations, especially in the service sector, employees are required to display emotions such as friendliness when helping customers. Apart from physical labour, the management and display of appropriate emotions such as friendliness as part of everyday work refers to emotional labour. Much of the research on emotional labour focuses on negative outcomes, such as burnout and emotional exhaustion. Despite these negative repercussions, the positive consequences, such as financial gain for employers and bonus incentives for employees for high sales figures, may be implied in the expectation of and reasons why employees perform emotional labour. However, little research focuses on the positive outcomes of emotional labour, where both employers and employees can benefit from it. Petrol stations are environments where emotional labour is part of the job description of petrol attendants. Apart from the physical labour, petrol attendants are obliged to display friendliness when helping customers. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with managers and male petrol attendants of a petrol station in Stellenbosch, with the focus on how they use emotional labour to benefit themselves and their employers financially. It was found that petrol attendants use emotional labour for financial purposes, both for their employer and for self-interest.

Biomonitoring of oral epithelial cells in petrol station attendants: Comparison between buccal mucosa and lateral border of the tongue

Owing to the influence of geno- and cytotoxicity on chemical carcinogenesis, studies have demonstrated that petroleum derivatives are able to induce genetic damage and cellular death with conflicting results so far. The aim of the present study was to comparatively evaluate DNA damage (micronucleus) and cellular death (pyknosis, karyolysis and karyorrhexis) in exfoliated oral mucosa cells from gas petrol attendants using two different anatomic buccal sites: cheek mucosa and lateral border of the tongue. A total of 23 gas petrol attendants and 23 health controls (non-exposed individuals) were included in this setting. Individuals had epithelial cells from cheek and lateral border of the tongue mechanically exfoliated, placed in fixative and dropped in clean slides which were checked for the above nuclear phenotypes. The results pointed out significant statistical differences ( p < 0.05) of micronucleated oral mucosa cells from gas petrol attendants for both oral sites evaluated. In the same way, petroleum derivate exposure was able to increase other nuclear alterations closely related to cytotoxicity such as karyorrhexis, pyknosis and karyolysis, being the most pronunciated effects as those found in the lateral border of the tongue. No interaction was observed between smoking and petroleum exposure. In summary, these data indicate that gas petrol attendants comprise a high risk group for DNA damage and cellular death. It seems that the lateral border of the tongue is a more sensitive site to geno- and cytotoxic insult induced by petroleum derivates.

DNA Damage and Repair Detected by The Comet Assay in Lymphocytes of African Petrol Attendants: A Pilot Study

Petrol attendants are exposed to petrol volatile organic compounds (VOCs) which may have genotoxic and carcinogenic effects. The single-cell gel electrophoresis assay (comet assay) is a method highly sensitive to DNA damage induced by environmental and occupational exposure to carcinogenic and mutagenic agents. The aim of this study was to evaluate the level of exposure of petrol attendants to petrol VOCs and also to determine their effect on DNA damage and repair in lymphocytes of African petrol attendants. The exposed group consisted of 20 subjects, randomly selected from three petrol stations. A control group of 20 unexposed subjects was also chosen and matched for age and smoking habits with the exposed group. Sorbent tubes were used to assess personal exposure of petrol attendants. The comet assay was used to investigate the basal DNA damage and repair capacity in isolated lymphocytes of petrol attendants and unexposed subjects. Blood samples were taken from the petrol attendants at the end of their 8-h working shift and also from the unexposed subjects. The petrol attendants were found to be exposed to levels of petrol VOCs lower than the South African occupational exposure limit for constituent chemicals. A significant relationship was found between the volume of petrol sold during the shift and the average concentrations of benzene, toluene and the total VOCs measured. However, relative humidity had a negative correlation with the average concentrations of benzene, toluene, xylene and the total VOCs. Significantly higher basal DNA damage was observed with the exposed group compared to the unexposed group. The period of exposure influenced the level of DNA damage and the calculated repair capacity. Smoking and age had a significant influence on the level of DNA damage. DNA repair capacity was delayed in smokers of both exposed and unexposed group.

Immunoglobulin classes and liver function tests in Nigerian petrol attendants

Prolonged exposure to petrol has been shown to be a significant health hazard, especially for skeletal, circulatory, immune and reproductive systems. The present study investigates liver functions (alanine amino transferase and aspartate amino transferase, alkaline phosphatase (ALP),<b> </b> total bilirubin, total protein and albumin) and immune functions (IgG, IgA and IgM) in 29 male petrol attendants and compares them with corresponding values in 22 sex- and age-matched controls using spectrophotometry and single radial immuno-diffusion method respectively for determining the functions. All the liver function tests were similar in both petrol attendants and the controls except for significantly lower levels of ALP (<i> P</i> =0.02). Also, the levels of IgG and IgA were similar in petrol attendants when compared with corresponding levels in controls, while the levels of IgM were significantly raised in petrol attendants when compared with corresponding levels in controls (<i> P</i> =0.02).<br>This study shows that parameters of liver functions are within normal range in Nigerian petrol attendants. <br><br>

Peak Expiratory Flow Rate in Petroleum Depot Workers and Petrol Filling Station Attendants

Peak Expiratory Flow Rate (PEFR) values in litres per minute were determined in petrol depot loaders, petrol station attendants and in control subjects. The PEFR values were 315 ± 94, 386 + 91 and 529 + 94 litres/min. in depot workers, petrol attendants and control subjects respectively. The value in the control subjects was significantly greater than in depot workers (P Key words: Peak Flow Rate, Petroleum, Loaders, Attendants Nigerian Medical Practitioner Vol.47(3) 2005: 22-25