Clinical Symptoms, Gender Variation and the Effect of Occupational Inhalation of Gasoline Vapour Among Petrol Station Attendants in Lagos, South West Nigeria

Abstract

Introduction: To describe the clinical symptoms of male and female staff occupationally exposed to gasoline vapor (GV) in metropolitan Lagos Nigeria.

Method: A face-to-face interview, using semi-structured questionnaire, was conducted among 275 (males=190 females=85) respondents to collect sociodemographic reproductive nutritional and occupational data as well as sleep pattern from individuals working at gasoline (gasoline) stations as pump attendants. NCSS 20 statistical software was used for data analysis.

Results: The mean (±) age of all respondents was 31.2 (7.4) years and that of males, recorded as 32.1 (7.8) years was significantly different (P-value=0.0005) from that of females noted as 29.1 (5.9) years. Mean duration of exposure to GV (3.70±3.56 years) was significantly longer (t-test=2.28, P-value=0.02) in males. Mean duration of sleep among females exposed to GV for 1-2 years was significantly lower (t-test=2.6, P-value=0.01) than that of females exposed for <1 year. The most prevalent symptoms in all respondents were headache (72.4%) followed by cough and catarrh (34.5%) chest pain (21.1%) and eye irritation (20.7%) Among married male respondents 4 (3.5%) reported wife had difficulty in getting pregnant, mostly (3, 75.0%) among those exposed to GV for 4.1-6 years. Miscarriage, dyspareunia, use of contraceptive devices and irregular menstruation were respectively reported by 36.8%, 41.7%, 46.2% and 40.9% females who had been occupationally exposed to GV for 2.1-4 years and 36.4% of these women used more than 3 menstrual hygiene pads monthly.

Conclusion: Headache was the most prevalent symptom of ill health among those occupationally exposed to GV. Perceived gynecological outcome as reported by women occupationally exposed to GV for over 2 years were miscarriage, dyspareunia, irregular menstruation and heavy menstrual bleeding. This study recommends phased change to a better fuel dispensing system and possible capture of gasoline vapor during refueling gasoline storage tanks.