Introduction: Evaluating the chemical risks at the workplaces, the potential carcinogenic risk is a primary interest. Particularly, about the gasoline station the main attention was directed to the possible source of exposure to benzene, classified as carcinogens by numerous institutions. During the last year, a study on 89 gasoline attendants (30 smokers) and a matched group of 90 controls (31 smokers) working in Lombardy, Italy was planned. Methods: The protocol included interview via questionnaires, environmental air monitoring (passive personal sampling during the work shift), and biological monitoring (determination of benzene in urine spot samples collected three at different moments: baseline after vacation before the beginning of the work week, before shift and at end shift on a day in the second half of the week). Results: Airborne levels of benzene ranged from 3246 to 3 µg/m3 (median 59) in gasoline station attendants, and from 48 to 1 µg/m3 (4) in controls. Respectively 93% and 30% of the subjects experienced a higher exposure than the air quality Italian guideline for general environment value (5 µg/m3). All results were below European Union Occupational Exposure Limit; moreover 96% of gasoline attendants were ten fold lower. Excretion of urinary benzene (ng/L) was higher in gasoline attendants than in controls at every sampling moment: respectively, median value was 283 vs 146 (baseline), 337 vs 86 (before shift), and 339 vs 157 (end-shift). In the smoker gasoline attendants the end-shift value was significant lower than the before shift one, while the trend is inverted in the smoker controls. Discussion: The results of this study demonstrate that gasoline station attendants experience a significant occupational exposure to benzene. Besides keeping down safety risk, smoking prohibition at service stations is a relevant preventive measure to limit benzene internal dose.

Benzene exposure at service stations : preliminary results of an Italian study in Lombardy / P.E. Cirla, I. Martinotti, S. Fustinoni, L. Campo, P. Missineo, F. Rossella, P.A. Bertazzi, L. Scano, G. Tangredi, S. Donelli, M. Della Foglia - In: Occupational health : a basic right at work : an asset to society[s.l] : null, 2009. - pp. 249 (( Intervento presentato al 29. convegno International Congress on Occupational Health (ICOH) tenutosi a Cape Town (South Africa) nel 2009.

Benzene exposure at service stations : preliminary results of an Italian study in Lombardy

P.E. Cirla
Primo
;
I. Martinotti
Secondo
;
S. Fustinoni;L. Campo;P.A. Bertazzi;
2009

Abstract

Introduction: Evaluating the chemical risks at the workplaces, the potential carcinogenic risk is a primary interest. Particularly, about the gasoline station the main attention was directed to the possible source of exposure to benzene, classified as carcinogens by numerous institutions. During the last year, a study on 89 gasoline attendants (30 smokers) and a matched group of 90 controls (31 smokers) working in Lombardy, Italy was planned. Methods: The protocol included interview via questionnaires, environmental air monitoring (passive personal sampling during the work shift), and biological monitoring (determination of benzene in urine spot samples collected three at different moments: baseline after vacation before the beginning of the work week, before shift and at end shift on a day in the second half of the week). Results: Airborne levels of benzene ranged from 3246 to 3 µg/m3 (median 59) in gasoline station attendants, and from 48 to 1 µg/m3 (4) in controls. Respectively 93% and 30% of the subjects experienced a higher exposure than the air quality Italian guideline for general environment value (5 µg/m3). All results were below European Union Occupational Exposure Limit; moreover 96% of gasoline attendants were ten fold lower. Excretion of urinary benzene (ng/L) was higher in gasoline attendants than in controls at every sampling moment: respectively, median value was 283 vs 146 (baseline), 337 vs 86 (before shift), and 339 vs 157 (end-shift). In the smoker gasoline attendants the end-shift value was significant lower than the before shift one, while the trend is inverted in the smoker controls. Discussion: The results of this study demonstrate that gasoline station attendants experience a significant occupational exposure to benzene. Besides keeping down safety risk, smoking prohibition at service stations is a relevant preventive measure to limit benzene internal dose.
Benzene ; gasoline ; exposure
Settore MED/44 - Medicina del Lavoro
2009
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/2434/71596
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