Key result
Occupational exposure to fuel vapor in male gas station attendants was associated with significantly higher systolic (p=0.003) and diastolic (p=0.001) blood pressure compared to unexposed controls.
Why the study?
Unprotected male gas station attendants with long working hours are exposed to hydrocarbon fuels associated with adverse health effects via autonomic nervous system modulation.
Does occupational exposure to hydrocarbon fuels alter cardiovascular autonomic functions in male gas station attendants?
Case-Control (n=96)
Yes
Does occupational exposure to hydrocarbon fuels alter cardiovascular autonomic functions in male gas station attendants?
p-value: p=0.003
Occupational exposure to fuel vapor in gas station attendants is associated with increased sympathetic outflow and higher blood pressure, highlighting the need for periodic cardiovascular monitoring.
Supports BP monitoring in exposed workers; hypothesis-generating, needs prospective confirmation.
Fuel dispensing at fuel stations is performed manually by unprotected male gas station attendants in Sri Lanka, who have long working hours. These workers are exposed to hydrocarbon fuels associated with multiple health effects by modulation of the autonomic nervous system. This study was performed to determine cardiovascular autonomic functions among fuel pump attendants in Sri Lanka. Fuel pump attendants (n = 50) aged between 19 and 65 years were identified for the study from seven fuel stations. They were compared with age- and gender-matched controls (n = 46) without occupational exposure to fuel. A physical examination was performed before the autonomic function and heart rate variability (HRV) assessment. There were no significant differences in weight, height, or BMI between the study and the control populations (p > 0.05). Both the systolic blood pressure (SBP) (Mann Whitney U (MWU) = 743.5, p = 0.003) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) (MWU = 686.5, p = 0.001) were significantly higher among the gas station attendants compared to controls. Valsalva ratio was significantly higher among the study group (MW U = 874.00, p = 0.043) compared to controls. The HRV analysis showed significantly higher SDNN and SD2 (MWU = 842.00, p = 0.034, and MWU = 843.50, p = 0.035 respectively) among the gas station attendants compared to controls. The changes to the cardiovascular autonomic parameters among those exposed to fuel vapor as a gas station attendant indicate an increase in sympathetic outflow to the vessels. In the occupational setting as fuel pump attendants need periodic monitoring.
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Warnakulasuriya et al. (2024) conducted a case-control in Occupational exposure to hydrocarbon fuels (n=96). Occupational exposure to fuel vapor vs. No occupational exposure to fuel was evaluated on Systolic blood pressure (SBP) (p=0.003). Occupational exposure to fuel vapor in male gas station attendants was associated with significantly higher systolic (p=0.003) and diastolic (p=0.001) blood pressure compared to unexposed controls.
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