Evaluation of Exposure to Toluene and Xylene in Gasoline Station Workers
Table 3
Distribution and values of HA and MHA biomarkers on signs and symptoms of gasoline station workers (occupationally exposed to VOCs) and office workers (comparison group) in Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), 2015–2017.
Variables
Office workers1 (n = 100)
Gasoline station workers2 (n = 275)
value3
Convenience store workers (n = 94)
Filling station attendants (n = 181)
n (%)
Median (min; max)
n (%)
Median (min; max)
n (%)
Median (min; max)
Altered mood/depression
HA
20 (20.0)
0.00 (0; 0.67)
39 (41.5)
0.32 (0.06; 0.86)
44 (24.3)
0.22 (0; 1.60)
<0.0001
MHA
20 (20.0)
0.00 (0; 0.30)
39 (41.5)
1.31 (0.22; 3.80)
44 (24.3)
1.25 (0; 7.46)
Anxiety
HA
57 (57.0)
0.00 (0; 0.67)
51 (54.2)
0.32 (0; 10.38)
84 (46.4)
0.20 (0; 1.60)
<0.0001
MHA
57 (57.0)
0.00 (0; 0.31)
51 (54.2)
1.31 (0; 6.19)
84 (46.4)
0.87 (0; 7.46)
Asthenia
HA
14 (14.0)
0.00 (0; 0.98)
11 (11.7)
0.28 (0.08; 0.71)
35 (19.3)
0.30 (0; 1.60)
0.0006
MHA
14 (14.0)
0.00 (0; 0.03)
11 (11.7)
1.05 (0.29; 2.92)
35 (19.3)
1.31 (0; 7.46)
<0.0001
Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder
HA
27 (27.0)
0.00 (0; 0.67)
24 (25.5)
0.28 (0.06; 1.05)
42 (23.2)
0.29 (0; 1.11)
<0.0001
MHA
27 (27.0)
0.00 (0; 0.31)
24 (25.5)
1.06 (0.29; 4.95)
42 (23.2)
1.42 (0; 5.50)
Cramp
HA
23 (23.0)
0.00 (0; 0.98)
47 (50.5)
0.35 (0.04; 1.38)
59 (32.6)
0.22 (0; 1.08)
<0.0001
MHA
23 (23.0)
0.00 (0; 0.31)
47 (50.5)
1.46 (0.16; 6.19)
59 (32.6)
1.10 (0; 4.43)
Difficulty seeing
HA
34 (34.0)
0.00 (0; 0.60)
26 (27.7)
0.29 (0.09; 1.23)
54 (29.8)
0.26 (0; 1.60)
<0.0001
MHA
34 (34.0)
0.00 (0; 0.31)
26 (27.7)
1.27 (0.22; 5.06)
54 (29.8)
1.19 (0; 7.46)
Dizziness
HA
12 (12.0)
0.00 (0; 0.19)
40 (42.6)
0.30 (0.04; 1.54)
41 (43.6)
0.21 (0; 1.60)
<0.0001
MHA
12 (12.0)
0.00 (0; 0.09)
40 (42.6)
1.15 (0.16; 6.54)
41 (43.6)
0.88 (0; 7.46)
Drowsiness
HA
25 (25.0)
0.00 (0; 0.67)
46 (48.9%)
0.36 (0; 1.54)
76 (42.0%)
0.22 (0; 1.60)
<0.0001
MHA
25 (25.0)
0.00 (0; 0.30)
46 (48.9%)
1.52 (0; 6.54)
76 (42.0%)
1.10 (0; 7.46)
Headache
HA
34 (34.0)
0 (0.00; 0.98)
46 (48.9%)
0.28 (0.06; 1.38)
62 (34.2%)
0.22 (0; 1.11)
<0.0001
MHA
34 (34.0)
0.00 (0; 0.30)
46 (48.9%)
1.24 (0.22; 6.19)
62 (34.2%)
1.04 (0; 5.51)
Insomnia
HA
24 (24.0)
0.00 (0; 0.47)
28 (29.7)
0.30 (0.06; 0.82)
42 (23.2)
0.24 (0; 1.60)
<0.0001
MHA
24 (24.0)
0.00 (0; 0.31)
28 (29.7)
1.31 (0.31; 3.58)
42 (23.2)
1.15 (0; 7.46)
Involuntary movement
HA
15 (15.0)
0.00 (0; 0.43)
27 (28.7)
0.28 (0.06; 1.23)
44 (24.3)
0.21 (0; 1.08)
<0.0001
MHA
15 (15.0)
0.00 (0; 0.18)
27 (28.7)
1.28 (0.13; 5.06)
44 (24.3)
0.93 (0; 4.43)
Irritability/nervousness
HA
36 (36.0)
0.00 (0; 0.98)
35 (37.2)
0.28 (0.06; 1.38)
63 (34.8)
0.22 (0; 1.60)
<0.0001
MHA
36 (36.0)
0.00 (0; 0.31)
35 (37.2)
0.28 (0.06; 1.38)
63 (34.8)
1.18 (0; 7.46)
Memory loss
HA
27 (27.0)
0.00 (0; 0.67)
29 (30.9)
0.27 (0.09; 1.05)
43 (23.8)
0.22 (0; 1.60)
<0.0001
MHA
27 (27.0)
0.00 (0; 0.31)
29 (30.9)
1.28 (0.22; 4.95)
43 (23.8)
1.26 (0; 7.46)
Tingling
HA
19 (19.0)
0.00 (0; 0.98)
28 (29.8)
0.30 (0.04; 1.38)
36 (19.9)
0.19 (0.02; 0.91)
<0.0001
MHA
19 (19.0)
0.00 (0; 0.11)
28 (29.8)
1.21 (0.16; 6.19)
36 (19.9)
1.14 (0.19; 5.50)
Tremor
HA
05 (5.0)
0.00 (0; 0.19)
09 (9.6)
0.25 (0.12; 1.20)
24 (13.3)
0.22 (0; 1.60)
0.0153
MHA
05 (5.0)
0.00 (0; 0)
09 (9.6)
1.25 (0.43; 5.29)
24 (13.3)
0.98 (0; 7.46)
0.0024
Weakness
HA
12 (12.0)
0.00 (0; 0.43)
26 (27.7)
0.32 (0.06; 0.83)
32 (17.7)
0.25 (0; 1.60)
<0.0001
MHA
12 (12.0)
0.00 (0; 0.18)
26 (27.7)
1.24 (0.29; 3.74)
32 (17.7)
1.30 (0; 7.46)
Weight loss
HA
07 (7.0)
0.00 (0; 0.06)
21 (22.8)
0.25 (0; 0.91)
13 (7.2)
0.37 (0.12; 0.89)
<0.0001
MHA
07 (7.0)
0.00 (0; 0.12)
21 (22.8)
1.02 (0; 4.64)
13 (7.2)
1.88 (0.57; 3.62)
1Not occupationally exposed to toluene and xylene. 2Occupationally exposed to toluene and xylene. 3Kruskal–Wallis test. Higher frequency of HA and MHA biomarkers compared to OW or between exposed groups, CSW and FSA (chi-square test, ). Higher level of HA and MHA biomarkers when CSW and FSA were compared (Kruskal–Wallis test with Dunn’s posttest, ).
