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Objective To analyze the diagnosis cases of occupational benzene poisoning in gas station industry, and to explore the application of GC-MS technology in occupational disease diagnosis. Methods The epidemiological method was used to describe and analyze the occupational disease diagnosis of 15 gas station workers , and qualitative screening of occupational hazard factors was performed by GC-MS. Results All the 15 workers had more than one year's occupation history of oil refueling and unloading. The clinical manifestations were consistent with the characteristics of chronic benzene poisoning in diagnosis of occupational benzene poisoning. However, due to lack of evidence of occupational exposure to benzene and incomplete diagnostic data, occupational chronic benzene poisoning was not diagnosed. GC-MS technology was used to screen the occupational hazard factors in the gas station workplace, and benzene, n-pentane, n-hexane and so on were found. Conclusion GC-MS is recommended for qualitative screening of organic solvents such as benzene when diagnosing occupational diseases for gas station workers , so as to accurately identify occupational hazard factors in workplaces and provide reliable basis for diagnosis of occupational diseases.
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Objective To understand the occupational health status of gas station workers, to analyze the characteristics of early health damage, and to provide a reference for the occupational health monitoring of workers in this industry. Methods The gas station workers who underwent occupational health examination in an occupational health examination institution in Tianjin in 2021were selected as the research subjects. The examination results were statistically analyzed. Results A total of 381 gas station workers were included in this study, with a sex ratio of male to female of 1.40:1. The top three tests with abnormal results from high to low were abdominal color Doppler ultrasound (39.63%), urine routine (29.13%), and blood pressure (23.62%). The detected fatty liver accounted for 74.83% of abnormal abdominal color Doppler ultrasound. Analysis of abnormal results of different genders showed that the detection rate of abnormal blood pressure, fatty liver and liver function in males was higher than that in females (χ2=16.40, 25.40, 15.98，P＜0.05), the detection rate of high GGT in males was significantly higher than that in females (χ2=16.04，P＜0.05）. The detection rate of abnormal urine routine in females was higher than that in males (χ2=12.85，P＜0.05), and the positive rate of urine white blood cells and blood in urine were significantly higher I women than those in men (χ2 =16.80, 11.66，P＜0.05). The abnormal detection rate of electrocardiogram of gas station workers increased with age (χ2=28.02，P＜0.05), and the abnormality of high blood pressure showed an increasing trend with age and working years（χ2=25.00, 15.26，P＜0.05). Conclusion The long-term exposure of gas station workers to chemical toxic substances such as organic solvents and benzene series and physical factors such as high temperature in summer and low temperature in winter will have a certain impact on health. It is suggested that employers should reasonably arrange their work systems and carry out occupational health monitoring in a targeted manner.
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Objective To investigate the health status of employees in Guangdong gas stations and analyze the factors of occupational hazards. Methods According to the records of the provincial comprehensive information system, and the division of administrative regions, a random sampling method was used to detect 22 street gas stations in the town of Xixiang, Baoan District, Shenzhen, with 335 related employees included. The hazardous factors of volatile chemical compositions were analyzed, and the results of occupational health examinations of gas station workers were evaluated. Results The occupational hazards in the volatile organic components of each oil product at 22 gas stations were analyzed, and the results showed that they all met the national standards. The occupational health status was evaluated on all employees in the gas stations in this survey. Most of them did not find any occupational hazards, but the health status of the staff in the duty room was better than that of the staff beside the tanker. Conclusion The gas station workers were at the general occupational hazard risk, but occupational protection also needs to be strengthened. Regular inspection of oil and gas recovery devices is required to improve the airtightness. Regular occupational training should be conducted to further standardize vocational operation.
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RESUMO Este artigo apresenta um modelo simplificado de análise sobre o potencial de risco associado à existência de postos de comércio de combustíveis no contexto urbano, que considera três critérios de análise: operacional, normativo e ambiental. Esses critérios estão distribuídos entre oito variáveis de controle, internas e externas, as quais são valoradas a partir de informações quantitativas e qualitativas facilmente disponibilizadas, e que foram empregadas na determinação das notas de risco de 67 postos de combustíveis existentes na primeira légua patrimonial (PLP) da cidade de Belém, Pará, o primeiro rossio da cidade, demarcado pela coroa Portuguesa em 1616, com o fim de obtenção da Nota de Risco de Postos de Combustível e produção do Mapa de Potencial de Risco dos bairros da PLP. Os resultados demonstram que a maioria dos postos de combustíveis existentes na PLP possui risco alto e poucos impõem risco grave e médio.
ABSTRACT This paper introduces a simple model to assess potential risk of gas stations in urban areas, which takes into account three dimensions of analysis: operational, normative, and environmental. These dimensions are distributed in eight internal and external control variables, which, in turn, are valued by qualitative and quantitative interpretation of easily available local data. The proposed model was applied to evaluate 67 gas stations located within the first urban mile of Belém, Pará, Brazil, which is characterized as the first demarcation of land granted by the Portuguese crown in the foundation of Belém, in 1616, in order to obtain the risk rating for gas station and also to produce the potential risk map for first urban area districts. Results show that most of the gas stations in the first urban mile presents high risk, whereas only a few possesses important and medium risk.
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Resumo Introdução: o Roteiro de inspeção sanitária de ambientes e processos de trabalho em postos de revenda de combustíveis (RIAT-PRC) é utilizado para fins de vigilância em saúde pelo Centro de Referência em Saúde do Trabalhador (Cerest). Objetivo: descrever os usos e aplicações do RIAT-PRC a partir da experiência da vigilância em saúde do trabalhador do estado de Santa Catarina. Método: relato descritivo e analítico do instrumento RIAT-PRC e da avaliação de sua qualidade e uso no estado de Santa Catarina, no período de 2010 a 2014. Resultados: o roteiro foi aplicado em 459 PRC, com bom grau de preenchimento no geral. A aplicação do instrumento permitiu identificar baixa realização de monitoramentos biológicos e ambientais por parte das empresas. Também permitiu o acompanhamento das condições de trabalho e de saúde dos trabalhadores ao longo do tempo, bem como a possibilidade de identificar fatores e situações de risco nos ambientes de trabalho. Conclusão: o RIAT-PRC mostrou factibilidade para vigilância e para subsídio de estudos sobre exposição ao benzeno em PRC. Evidenciou-se a necessidade de aprimorar a capacitação das equipes técnicas para a efetiva vigilância da exposição ao benzeno e a outros agentes químicos presentes nos PRC.
Abstract Introduction: the Form for Sanitary Inspection of Work Processes and Environments in Gas Stations (RIAT-PRC) is used for health surveillance by Reference Centers in Occupational Health (Cerest). Objective: to describe the uses and applications of the RIAT-PRC tool from the experience of the Surveillance of Occupational Health in the state of Santa Catarina, Brazil. Method: descriptive and analytical report of the RIAT-PRC tool and of the evaluation of its quality and use in Santa Catarina, from 2010 to 2014. Results: the form was introduced in 459 gas stations, with good filling degree in general. The application of the tool, made it possible to verify that the companies carried out only a few biological and environmental monitoring. It also allowed us to follow workers' occupational and health conditions along the study time as well as to identify risk factors in work environments. Conclusion: the RIAT-PRC was useful for surveillance and for supporting studies on benzene exposure in gas stations. The results highlighted the need to improve the training of surveillance technical teams, aiming at an effective monitoring of gas stations workers' exposure to benzene and other chemicals.
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Resumo Introdução: o benzeno, composto encontrado na gasolina, é reconhecido como agente cancerígeno e tem sido objeto de controle em âmbito mundial devido aos seus efeitos agudos e crônicos à saúde humana. No Brasil, trabalhadores de postos de revenda de combustíveis (PRC) são expostos ao benzeno durante suas atividades ocupacionais. A Vigilância Sanitária, ao monitorar a exposição dos trabalhadores ao benzeno, pode avaliar os riscos e implementar estratégias para estabelecer um ambiente de trabalho mais seguro. Objetivo: suscitar a discussão sobre as ações da Vigilância Sanitária em postos de combustíveis baseada na aplicação do modelo Força-Motriz/Pressão/Situação/Exposição/Efeito/Ação (FPSEEA). Método: realização de uma ampla revisão da literatura com a finalidade de obter as informações necessárias para construção e desenvolvimento da matriz proposta no modelo. Discussão: foi possível identificar as deficiências existentes nos diferentes níveis institucionais que possuem suas ações voltadas à proteção da saúde do trabalhador e propor ações para avançar na reflexão sobre o modelo de desenvolvimento, modos de produção e exploração de recursos. Também foram identificadas as possíveis ações da Vigilância Sanitária a serem aplicadas no ambiente ocupacional de PRC para eliminação ou redução dos riscos à saúde aos quais os trabalhadores estão expostos.
Abstract Introduction: benzene, a compound found in gasoline, is recognized as a carcinogen, and it has been controlled worldwide because of its acute and chronic effects to human health. In Brazil, gas station (GS) attendants are exposed to benzene during their occupational activities. Health Surveillance, when monitoring the workers’ exposure to benzene, can assess the risks and implement strategies to establish a safer working environment. Objective: to evoke the discussion about Health Surveillance actions in gas stations based on the application of the Driving Force/Pressure/State/Exposure/Effects/Action (DPSEEA) model. Method: we developed the matrix proposed by the DPSEEA model using information from literature review. Discussion: we were able to identify the existing shortcomings in the different institutional levels that have actions directed to workers’ health protection. We also proposed actions for enhancing the discussion on the development model, modes of production, and resources exploitation. We also identified the possible Health Surveillance actions to be applied in the GS occupational environment to eliminate or reduce the health risks to which workers are exposed.
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The toxicity and genotoxicity of wastewater from eight gasoline stations in Brasília, Brazil's capital city, was studied by assessing chromosomal aberrations, chromosomal malsegregation and the mitotic index in Allium cepa root cells, and the occurrence of micronucleus and nuclear abnormalities in peripheral erythrocytes of tilapia fish (Oreochromis niloticus). The content of gasoline station effluents was also analyzed based on several physico-chemical parameters. None of the wastewater samples was genotoxic to A. cepa root cells, although cell proliferation was significantly inhibited, especially at the highest concentrations. Likewise, no micronuclei were observed in O. niloticus peripheral erythrocytes, even after exposure to high concentrations, but there was an increase in the number of nuclear abnormalities and fish mortality. These results show that although the effluent from gasoline stations is processed by an oil/water separation system before being discharged into the main sewage system, the wastewater still contains toxic compounds.