Exposure of Petrol Station Attendants and Auto Mechanics to Premium Motor Sprit Fumes in Calabar, Nigeria
A population-based-cross-sectional survey was carried out to investigate the potential risk of exposure to premium motor spirit (PMS) fumes in Calabar, Nigeria, among Automobile Mechanics (AM), Petrol Station Attendants (PSA) and the g...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Hindawi Limited
2009-01-01
|
| Series: | Journal of Environmental and Public Health |
| Online Access: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2009/281876 |
| Summary: | A
population-based-cross-sectional survey was carried
out to investigate the potential risk of exposure to
premium motor spirit (PMS) fumes in Calabar,
Nigeria, among Automobile Mechanics (AM), Petrol
Station Attendants (PSA) and the general population.
Structured questionnaire was administered on the
randomly chosen subjects to elicit information on
their exposure to PMS. Duration of exposure was taken
as the length of work in their various occupations.
Venous blood was taken for methaemoglobin (MetHb) and
packed cells volume (PCV). Mean MetHb value was higher
in AM (7.3%) and PSA (5.8%) than in the
subjects from the general population (2.7%). PCV
was lower in PSA (30.8%), than AM (33.3%) and
the subjects from the general population (40.8%).
MetHb level was directly proportional, and PCV
inversely related, to the duration of exposure. The
study suggested increased exposure to petrol fumes
among AM, PSA, and MetHb as a useful biomarker in
determining the level of exposure to benzene in petrol
vapour. |
|---|---|
| ISSN: | 1687-9805 1687-9813 |