Abstract:
Background: Petrol station workers are chronically exposed to petroleum derivatives
primarily through inhalation of the volatile fraction during vehicle refueling. The adverse health
effects of gasoline exposure may be primarily related to impairment of the hematopoietic system
with bone marrow depression. On top of controversial association between hematological
parameters and gasoline exposures, there is paucity of data regarding the topic in the study area.
Objective: To assess the hematological parameters among gasoline exposed workers at gas
station as compared to non-exposed controls in Hossana Town, South West Ethiopia from May 1
to June 15, 2020.
Method: Institutional based comparative cross-sectional study was conducted by involving 60
individuals working in gasoline stations and 120 non-exposed age and gender matched
individuals. Socio-demographic, occupational and other related data of study participants were
collected by structured questionnaire via face to face interview. Four milliter of venous blood
sample was collected to perform hematological analysis and to examine peripheral blood
morphology. Data were analyzed by SPSS version 20. Independent sample T-test, MannWhitney U tests, one way ANOVA and Correlation Coefficient analysis were performed. Pvalue<0.05 was considered as statistically significant.
Results: A total of 180 subjects (gasoline exposed, n=60 and non-exposed, n=120) were
included. The majority of the workers 66.7% did not use any kind of personal protective
equipment. The mean ±SD value of gasoline exposed subjects had significant reduction in RBC
(× 106
per μl) count (4.87±0.62 versus 5.08±0.41, P=0.007) and the median (IQR) of Hgb (g/dl)
level (14.38(1.7) versus15.38 (1.3), p=0.001) compared with the non-exposed subjects. On the
other hand, significant increases were found in median (IQR) value of absolute eosinophil count
(0.3(0.57) versus 0.2(0.3), p=0.01) exposed subjects compared with the non-exposed. The
peripheral blood film examination reveals 81.7% Normocytic normochromic picture and 11.7%
macrocytosis in exposed group. Conclusion: Long-term exposure to gasoline at gas station has
deleterious effect on the RBC, Hgb and Hct as compared to non-exposed subject. Therefore,
protective measure should be implemented by the concerned body to minimize exposures to
gasoline
