Factors Associated with Adverse Symptoms related to Benzene Toxicity among Workers at Gasoline Stations

Abstract

Background and objective : Benzene is carcinogen which was found in ambient air of gasoline stations. Workers exposed to gasoline might have potential risk for adverse symptoms related to benzene toxicity. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the factors associated with experienced adverse symptoms among workers at gasoline stations.

Methods : Data were collected among 120 gasoline workers in Muang Khon Kaen, Khon Kaen province by an interview with a structurequestionnaire and an observation. The association between experienced adverse symptoms andthe factors of personal and work characteristics, practice and prevention were analysed by simple logistic regression analysis. The significant risk factors were presented with Odds Ratio(OR), 95% confidence interval (95%CI)and p <0.05.

Results : The results showed that, 75.75% of workers had experienced adverse symptoms at moderate to severe level during the last six months and other workers had symptoms only at mild level. The top three symptoms mostly reported were exhaustion, headache and confusion. The factors significantly associated with adverse symptoms were direct contact with the gasoline over the period of working day (OR= 3.85, 95%CI =1.35-10.72), did not change any clothes or take a shower, or wash immediately hand strained with gasoline (OR=3.85; 95%CI = 1.14-10.25) and inconvenient to wash clothes or the body part which exposed to gasoline (OR= 3.05; 95%CI = 1.10-9.30).

Conclusion : This study indicated that all gasoline workers had experience of adverse symptoms related to benzene toxicity in different severity. The associated factors with experienced adverse symptoms were possibility of exposure under job function, unsafe practice of workers and insufficient safety management. Therefore, the owner of gasoline station should consider safety management and safety training for workers in order to prevent benzene exposure. Moreover, health and environmental monitoring are necessary for gasoline workers.