Survey on blood routine index and sugar level of workers in gasoline stations in Zhongshan City

Objective To understand the occupational hazards at gasoline stations and their potential effects on workers' health in Zhongshan City.

Methods Totally 35 gasoline stations were investigated and 622 workers (315 worked in the fueling plug areas and 307 worked in the office rooms) were studied. The airborne concentration of gasoline, benzene, toluene, xylene and n-hexane both at fueling plug areas and office rooms were measured. The occupational health examination data of these workers were collected and evaluated.

Results The time weighted average concentrations of gasoline, benzene, toluene, xylene, and n-hexane in the fueling plug areas were (76.73 ±7.03) mg/m³, (0.25 ±0.03) mg/m³, (0.63 ±0.13) mg/m³, (0.26 ±0.04) mg/m3, and (1.25 ±0.09)mg/m3, respectively, while no chemicals were detected in the office rooms. The hemoglobin level of the workers working in the fueling plug areas was lower than those working in the office rooms (P < 0.05), while the abnormal rate of hemoglobin was higher(P < 0.05). The blood glucose concentration and abnormal rate of the workers working in the fueling plug areas were higher(P < 0.05).

Conclusion The abnormal rates of blood glucose and hemoglobin concentration of workers engaged in fueling were higher, and the occupational health monitoring and surveillance of these workers should be strengthened.