Exploring the impact of occupational exposure: A study on cardiovascular autonomic functions of male gas station attendants in Sri Lanka

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...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:	Physiological reports Vol. 12; no. 21; pp. e70071 - n/a
Main Authors:	Warnakulasuriya, Tania, Medagoda, Kushan, Kottahachchi, Dulani, Luke, Dunya, Wadasinghe, Dilesha, Rathnayake, Prasanna, Ariyawansa, Janaki, Dissanayake, Tharuka, Sandeepani, Pavani, De Silva, Deepthi C., Devanarayana, Niranga Manjuri
Format:	Journal Article
Language:	English
Published:	United States John Wiley & Sons, Inc 01-11-2024 John Wiley and Sons Inc Wiley
Subjects:	Adult Aged Air pollution Autonomic nervous system Autonomic Nervous System - drug effects Autonomic Nervous System - physiology Autonomic Nervous System - physiopathology Blood pressure Blood Pressure - physiology cardiovascular autonomic functions Cold fuel vapor exposure Gases Heart rate Heart Rate - physiology heart rate variability Humans Hydrocarbons Hypertension Isometric exercise Male Middle Aged Nervous system occupation health Occupational exposure Occupational Exposure - adverse effects Original Physiological Effects of Atmospheric Pollution Pollutants Population studies Service stations Sri Lanka Statistical analysis VOCs Volatile organic compounds Young Adult Sri Lanka air pollution cardiovascular autonomic functions fuel vapor exposure heart rate variability occupation health
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Summary:	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. There are changes to the cardiovascular autonomic parameters among those exposed to fuel vapor in the occupational setting as fuel pump attendants. We emphasize the importance of continuous monitoring of air pollutants in the work area and periodic health assessment of the workers to prevent occupation exposure related cardiovascular pathology.
Bibliography:	ObjectType-Article-1 SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 ObjectType-Feature-2 content type line 23
ISSN:	2051-817X 2051-817X
DOI:	10.14814/phy2.70071