Toluene Exposure assessment Among Gasoline Station Workers

Abstract

          This cross-sectional analytic study aimed to assesstoluene exposure among gasoline station workers. The study
was conducted among 192 gasoline station workers in Khon Kaen province. Data was collected by the questionnaire for
the general data, working information and adverse health effects from toluene exposure. The ambient air samples were
monitoring by area sampling and analyzedfor the concentration of toluene by GC-FID and the urine samples were collected
from workers after shift work to determine the hippuric acid level and analyzed with HPLC-UV. The results showed
that there were 158 fueling workers and 34 cashiers. The most common of adverse health effects of toluene exposure
for fueling workers was headaches (48.42%), for the cashier workers was skin irritation (63.16%). The average toluene concentration in the ambient air was 40.30 + 66.66 ppb and the average of the hippuric acid was 422.71 + 977.97 mg/g Cr.
Hippuric acid was higher than biological exposure index (>1600 mg/g Cr) in 6 workers (3.13%).Considering toluene concentration in comparison of workers exposed to less than 50 ppb to 50 ppb or higher, it was found that the cashiershadstatistically significant difference of hippuric acid levels. In conclusions, the adverse health effect of cashiers at gasoline station was specific symptoms from toluene exposure. Consistent with the hippuric acid level in urine that was increasing when they were working in higher concentration of toluene. There should be a health surveillance in the cashier workers who have to persist sitting and work regularly in the booth at gasoline stations.