Ventilatory Impairment In Petrol Pump Workers

Lung function tests have been of increasing interest in the use for qualitative and quantitative evaluation of pulmonary function in patients with abnormalities of cardiorespiratory system (1). Petroleum refining products are constituted by cycloalkanes, straight and branched chain alkenes which are continued source of pollution in various occupational settings (2). With the increasing use of petroleum and petroleum products, there is greater opportunity for human ingestion and addiction of these toxic substances (3). Benzene and toluene are major monocyclic hydrocarbons in petrol with nitropyrene in diesel exhaust emission (2). Benzene is a highly volatile and the most usual route of exposure is through inhalation of vapour (4). In India, the percentage of benzene in automobile gasoline is only about 3% whereas in other countries it may be as high as 30%. Therefore, petrol pump workers are very likely to be exposed to the toxic effects of benzene in petrol (5). A small percentage of benzene can be detected in the expired air after being absorbed through the lungs (6). Studies on health condition in petrol pump workers have concentrated more on clinical symptoms with limited reports on lung function. The present study is carried out to assess the dynamic ventilatory lung function in petrol pump workers so as to comment on the long-term effects of work environment on lung function. Material And Methods The present study was conducted on 133 male subjects 33 control and 100 petrol pump workers. The study group comprised of healthy non-smoking males in the age group of 20-40 years working in different petrol pumps in Jammu City and its outskirts for more than a year. The control group comprised of 33 healthy nonsmoking adult males between the age group of 20 to 40 years working in the GMC & hospital as nursing orderlies, medical assistants and other hospital personnel. The Abstract The lung functions of 133 subjects (33 controls and 100 petrol pump workers) were studied. The study group comprised of healthy non-smoking males in the age group of 20-40 years working in different petrol pumps in Jammu city and its outskirts within a radius of 10 km for more than one year. The control group comprised of 33 healthy non-smoking adult males between the age group of 20-40 years working in the hospital. The results show that ventilatory efficiency of lung is decreased in petrol pump workers. The decline in lung functions in petrol pump workers could be due to exposure to petrol fuel vapours, diesel exhaust and airborne particulate matter at petrol pumps.