Health effects of automobile exhaust on garage workers

ABSTRACT

105 male workers were studied. All were comparable as regards age and socio-economic state. 42 of them were garage workers exposed to motor car exhaust gas. The rest, 63, were control group. They were all interviewed as regard the personal and occupational history. Special reference to symptoms of respiratory and urinary systems, general medical examination, and ventilatory function measurements using vicatest-4 were performed. A blood sample was obtained for laboratory tests [HB, SCOT and SGPT] and urine sample for cytological examination. It was found that there is a significantly higher rate of respiratory affection in exposed workers namely chronic bronchitis and impaired ventilatory function [FEV/VC percent <70 percent]. The percent reduction of FEV[1] and V.C. for exposed in relation to predicted values was significant. Hypertension and uninary troubles were significantly prevalent among exposed workers. No evidence of malignancy in urine cytology. However, the number of examined personal was thought to be small leading to s suggestion of screening cytology on a large scale for early detection. Also, filtering the exhaust should be done to reduce respiratory affection