Benzene Exposure and Its Association with Sickness Exhibited in Gasoline Station Workers

Blood benzene levels (BBLs) and urinary trans, trans-muconic acid (t,t-MA) were evaluated in 125 benzene exposures workers from 11 gasoline stations in Bangkok, Thailand. Their healths were also investigated by interviewing. The average BBL was 286.6 μg/L which was not significantly different between the genders. However, the t,t-MA level of 1.60 mg/g creatinine was significantly higher in women compared to men (independent t-test, p<0.001). Most symptoms were headaches, dizziness and fatigue, for which the prevalences were 33.7%, 24.6% and 19.5% respectively. BBL was significantly associated with headache and dizziness (logistic regression, p<0.05) but the t,t-MA level was not. This study supported the hypothesis that chronic occupational exposure to benzene may cause neurological effects in gasoline station workers.