Abstract

Background: In recent years, occupational health hazards have grown as one of the major public health issues worldwide. In this context, petrol pump workers were studied who by virtue of their occupation is continuously exposed to the various chemical substances and volatile organic compounds liberated in the form of gasoline vapors in their breathing zone.

Aims and Objectives: To explore the effects of gasoline vapors on some biochemical parameters (the liver enzymes) among the petrol pump filling attendants working at various petrol pumps of Jaipur city.

Materials and Methods: This study was conducted with 80 subjects (40 petrol pump workers working for more than three years at various petrol pumps of Jaipur city as study group and 40 matched male adults working as peons and ward boys in the different departments of the institute were considered as the control group). Liver enzymes were assessed using fully automated analyzer (Beckman Coulter AU680) available at the Central Biochemistry Laboratory in S.M.S Hospital Jaipur. Mean±standard deviation values for each parameter were determined for both the study and control groups and compared using an unpaired t–test, and P < 0.05 was considered significant.

Results: Liver enzymes: serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase and serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase were found significantly higher among the petrol filling attendants in comparison to the control group, except serum alkaline phosphatase which was although higher in petrol filling attendants but statistically insignificant between the two groups.

Conclusions: This study observed that the petrol pump workers are at greater risk of developing biochemical alterations in the hepatic enzymes with time. However, further longitudinal studies with larger sample size and regular follow-ups are required to get better insights into the results.

Key words: Gasoline Derivatives; Occupational Exposures; Petrol Pump Workers; Liver Enzymes