Health symptoms from exposure to low benzene concentration in workers at gasoline station area, Rayong province

Authors

  • Chan Pattama Polyong Occupational Health and Safety Program, Faculty of Science and Technology, Bansomdejchaopraya Rajabhat University, Bangkok, Thailand
  • Anamai Thetkathuek Industrial Hygiene and Safety Depratment, Faculty of Public Health, Burapha University, Chonburi, Thailand

Keywords:

Health Symptoms, Benzene, Gasoline Stations, Rayong Province

Abstract

Background: People who work at gasoline stations are likely to be exposed to benzene and health effects. However, exposure to low benzene concentrations has unclear health symptom effects Objective: To determine the health effects from exposure to low benzene concentrations in workers at gasoline stations, Rayong Province. Methods: The cross-sectional design using sample consisted of 108 subjects from five gasoline stations. Interview questions were used to gather information about 13 symptoms of fore body systems, the respiratory, nervous, skin, and eye system. Trans, trans-muconic acid (t,t-MA) levels were analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography. Result: Found that the median of t, t-MA for workers was 169.56 µg/g Cr (Interquartile range was 256.81 µg/g Cr). The top three health symptoms were headache, dizziness, and wheezing, accounting for 42.6, 37.0, and 25.9 percent of all symptoms, respectively. The comparison revealed that the abnormal symptoms group had significantly higher t,t-MA levels than the non-symptoms group (p<0.05), which included headaches, dizziness, wheezing, blurred vision, mucus-producing cough, fatigue easily, difficulty breathing, nausea, and skin rash. Correlation tests revealed a significant relationship between the t,t-MA and the number of abnormal symptoms (p<0.05) (R2 = 0.251). Conclusion: Nine abnormal symptoms were associated with benzene exposure. Such abnormal symptoms may be interpreted as an indication of self-observed health screening for benzene exposure. Additional studies should could be conducted to aid in the development of questionnaire-based standard screenings for those with low-level benzene exposure groups.

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Published

2023-10-01

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1.
Polyong CP, Thetkathuek A. Health symptoms from exposure to low benzene concentration in workers at gasoline station area, Rayong province. J Chulabhorn Royal Acad [Internet]. 2023 Oct. 1 [cited 2024 Jul. 1];5(4):179-90. Available from: https://he02.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/jcra/article/view/257998

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Research Articles