Assessment of hematological parameters of petrol filling workers at petrol stations in Gondar town, Northwest Ethiopia: a comparative cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND@#Petrol is the non-specific term for petroleum which is used for inside combustion of engines. Petrol filling workers are highly vulnerable to occupational exposure to these harmful substances which lead to hemato-toxicity and blood disorders such as leukemia, aplastic anemia, and dysplastic bone marrow. Thus, this study was aimed to assess hematological parameters of petrol filling workers in Gondar town, Northwest Ethiopia.@*METHODS@#A comparative cross-sectional study was conducted from January to March 2019 in Gondar town, Northwest Ethiopia. A total of 110 study participants comprising 55 study groups and 55 controls group were recruited by a convenient sampling technique. Socio-demographic data were collected using a structured questionnaire, and 3 ml of venous blood was collected for the determination of hematological parameters. The data were entered into Epi info 7.2.0.1 and analyzed by SPSS version of 20. Mean, standard deviation, median, and interquartile ranges were used to present the data. Independent t test and Mann-Whitney U test were used to compare the mean or median difference between parametric and non-parametric hematological parameters, respectively. Moreover, Pearson product-moment and Spearman's rank-order bivariable correlations analyses were used to describe the correlation between hematological parameters and duration of exposure to petrol. A P value of ≤ 0.05 was considered statistically significant.@*RESULTS@#The study revealed that mean red blood cell count and hemoglobin level as well as the median hematocrit, mean cell hemoglobin concentration, platelet count, absolute lymphocytes count, and red cell distribution width values of petrol filling workers showed a significant increment compared with the control group. On the other hand, the mean cell hemoglobin value of petrol filling workers showed a significant decrement compared with healthy controls. Moreover, the duration of exposure to petrol showed a significant positive correlation with red blood cell count and mean cell hemoglobin concentration; however, a significant negative correlation was observed with mean cell volume.@*CONCLUSION@#This study showed that the majority of hematological parameters of petrol filling workers showed an increment compared with healthy controls which might be associated with exposure to petrol chemicals. However, further longitudinal study with a larger sample size should be conducted to explore the impact of petrol exposure on hematopoiesis.

Clinical study of relationship between sleep apnea syndrome and metabolic syndrome of petrol field workers / 中华急诊医学杂志

Objective To analyze the relationship between obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) and metabolic syndrome (MS) in petrol field workers.Methods A total of 100 cases of OSAS patients of petrol field workers were enrolled as the study objects from March 2013 to August 2015 in emergency and respiratory department in Daqing Longnan Hospital and were divided into three groups:simple snoring group (Group A,n =26),mild OSAS group (Group B,n =42),and severe OSAS group (Group C,n =32).The comparison of dietetic status score,sleep status score and the patients with MS among 3 groups were carried out.The relationship between OSAS and MS was analyzed by using univariate and multivariable Logistic regression analyses were used.Results In Group C,sleep status score (8.3 ± 1.2) and dietetic status score (7.6 ± 1.4) and the rates of MS (23/32) were higher than those in the other two groups (P ＜ 0.05).Univariate and multivariable Logistic regression analyses,showed OSAS was the risk factorofMS [r=11.211 (OR =9.412,95％ CI:5.992～15.202)].Conclusions Dietetic status and sleep status were obviously influenced by OSAS in petrol field workers.The incidence of MS were more common in petrol field workersevere with OSAS and OSAS was a risk factor of MS.

Early Liver and Kidney Dysfunction Associated with Occupational Exposure to Sub-Threshold Limit Value Levels of Benzene, Toluene, and Xylenes in Unleaded Petrol

BACKGROUND: Unleaded petrol contains significant amounts of monocyclic aromatic hydrocarbons such as benzene, toluene, and xylenes (BTX). Toxic responses following occupational exposure to unleaded petrol have been evaluated only in limited studies. The main purpose of this study was to ascertain whether (or not) exposure to unleaded petrol, under normal working conditions, is associated with any hepatotoxic or nephrotoxic response. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study in which 200 employees of Shiraz petrol stations with current exposure to unleaded petrol, as well as 200 unexposed employees, were investigated. Atmospheric concentrations of BTX were measured using standard methods. Additionally, urine and fasting blood samples were taken from individuals for urinalysis and routine biochemical tests of kidney and liver function. RESULTS: The geometric means of airborne concentrations of BTX were found to be 0.8 mg m-3, 1.4 mg m-3, and 2.8 mg m-3, respectively. Additionally, means of direct bilirubin, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, blood urea and plasma creatinine were significantly higher in exposed individuals than in unexposed employees. Conversely, serum albumin, total protein, and serum concentrations of calcium and sodium were significantly lower in petrol station workers than in their unexposed counterparts. CONCLUSION: The average exposure of petrol station workers to BTX did not exceed the current threshold limit values (TLVs) for these chemicals. However, evidence of subtle, subclinical and prepathologic early liver and kidney dysfunction was evident in exposed individuals.

Discutindo e refletindo sobre a competência do enfermeiro offshore / Discussing and reflecting on the competence of nurses offshore / Discutindo y reflexionando sobre la competencia del enfermero offshore

Trata-se de um estudo exploratório, qualitativo, cujos objetivos foram identificar as competências exercidas pelos profissionais enfermeiros no trabalho offshore e discutí-las perante as competências gerais determinadas aos profissionais de saúde pelas Diretrizes Curriculares Nacionais. Os dados foram coletados de fevereiro a julho de 2011, através de entrevista semiestruturada com nove enfermeiros offshore de uma empresa nacional que terceiriza seus serviços à indústria petrolífera de empresas multinacionais em bacias hidrográficas brasileiras. As competências profissionais dos enfermeiros foram definidas no contexto de suas ações, atreladas ao assistir/cuidar, gerenciar/administrar e ensinar/orientar numa plataforma de petróleo offshore, num trabalho em equipe multiprofissional e com trabalhadores do ramo que exercem variadas e complexas atividades.

It is an exploratory study, qualitative, whose objectives were to identify the competence exercised by nurses in the work offshore and discuss them before competence to health professionals in the National Curriculum Guidelines. Data were collected from February to July 2011, through semi-structured interviews with nurses offshore at national company that outsources its services to the oil industry of multinational enterprises in Brazilian river basins. The professional competence of nurses were defined in the context of their actions, linked to the assist/care, manage/administer and teach/guide on offshore oil rig, a multidisciplinary team work and workers engaged in the business complex and varied activities.

Se trata de un estudio exploratorio, cualitativo, cuyos objetivos fueron era identificar las competencias ejercidas por los enfermeros en el trabajo offshore y discutirlas delante de las competencias generales determinadas a los profesionales de salud por las Directrices Curriculares Nacionales. Los datos fueron recolectados de febrero a julio de 2011, a través de entrevistas semiestructuradas con nueve enfermeros offshore de una empresa nacional que subcontrata sus servicios a la industria petrolera de empresas multinacionales en cuencas brasileñas. Las competencias profesionales de los enfermeros fueron definidas en el contexto de sus acciones, vinculadas a la guardia/atención, gestionar/administrar y enseñar/guiar en una plataforma petrolera, en un equipo de trabajo multidisciplinario y con trabajadores que participan en las actividades de negocio complejas y variadas.

Ventilatory Impairment In Petrol Pump Workers.

The lung functions of 133 subjects (33 controls and 100 petrol pump workers) were studied. The study group comprised of healthy non-smoking males in the age group of 20-40 years working in different petrol pumps in Jammu city and its outskirts within a radius of 10 km for more than one year. The control group comprised of 33 healthy non-smoking adult males between the age group of 20-40 years working in the hospital. The results show that ventilatory efficiency of lung is decreased in petrol pump workers. The decline in lung functions in petrol pump workers could be due to exposure to petrol fuel vapours, diesel exhaust and airborne particulate matter at petrol pumps.

Air pollution and fuel vapour induced changes in lung functions: Are fuel handlers safe.

Automobile exhaust derived air pollutants have become a major health hazard. Coupled with the inhalation of fuel vapour, as occurs in petrol station workers, this may lead to significant impairment of lung function. Spirometric lung functions were studied in 58 petrol station workers to examine this possibility. The forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1), forced expiratory flow 25%–75% (FEF25-75) and peak expiratory flow (PEF) were recorded and analysed separately for smokers and non-smokers. The workers were divided into 5 groups for analysis of data based on the number of years of work in the petrol pumps. Outdoor air analysis was also carried out. The FVC, FEV1 and PEF declined significantly with increasing years of work in petrol stations in both smokers and non-smokers. Smoking as an independent variable was found to affect the FEV1 significantly but not FVC or PEF. The FEF25-75 was found to be the most affected spirometric value with a significant reduction with increasing years of work. Smoking as such did not affect it. Oxides of nitrogen (NOx), suspended particulate matter (SPM) and particulate matter less than 10 microns (PM10) in outdoor air were higher than the national ambient air quality standards. Exposure to automobile exhaust and fuel vapour impairs lung function in a timedependent manner. Cigarette smoking appears to accelerate the decline.

Monitoramento de indicadores geoquímicos e avaliação de biodegradação em área contaminada com óleo diesel / Monitoring of geochemical indicators and biodegradation evaluation at a site contaminated with diesel oil

A biorremediação natural da água subterrânea contaminada com óleo diesel em um posto de combustíveis foi avaliada mediante o monitoramento de indicadores geoquímicos e ensaios laboratoriais de biodegradação. Durante um período de dois anos foram realizadas quatro coletas de água subterrânea para a avaliação de diversos parâmetros físico-químicos e a concentração de hidrocarbonetos. As análises microbiológicas consistiram na contagem de bactérias heterotróficas totais, na verificação da presença de bactérias hidrocarbonoclásticas e no teste de biodegradabilidade utilizando o indicador redox DCPIP. Foi possível identificar fatores que corroboram o emprego da técnica de biorremediação natural para o tratamento da água subterrânea, contudo, a presença de hidrocarbonetos retidos no solo representa uma fonte contínua de contaminação, por isso se faz necessário o monitoramento a longo prazo.

The natural bioremediation of the groundwater contaminated with diesel oil at a petrol station was evaluated by monitoring geochemical indicators and biodegradation tests in laboratory. During two years the groundwater was collected four times. Different physic-chemical parameters and the concentration of hydrocarbons were evaluated. Microbiological analyses consisted of total heterotrophic bacteria counting, verification of the presence of hydrocarbonoclastic bacteria and the biodegradability test using the redox indicator DCPIP. It was possible to identify factors that confirm the use of the natural bioremediation technique as a treatment to the groundwater, however, hydrocarbons retained in the soil represent a continuous source of contamination, and for this reason, a long term monitoring is necessary.