Occupational Exposure on Gasoline Station Workers Not Affect the Nasal Mucociliary Clearance Time and Pulmonary Function Test

Background: Gasoline station workers are directly exposed to benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene (BTEX) which may worsen their nasal mucociliary clearance (NMCC) time and pulmonary function test (PFT). This study aimed to know the profile of NMCC and PFT on gasoline station workers compared to control group. Method: Age and sex matched case control design study was conducted on 34 subjects of gasoline station workers and 34 non gasoline station workers. The NMCC time was assessed with saccharine tablet which inserted with a Tilley forceps. The time from saccharine placement until subject reporting the first sensation of a sweet taste was measured to the nearest minute. The PFT consist of vital capacity (VC), forced vital capacity (FCV), forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) and the ratio of FEV1/FCV were measured using digital spirometer. Data were analyzed with Pearson Chi-Square tests. Results: The mean NMCC time for gasoline station workers was 1386.5±552.9 seconds and control group was 1191.7±468.3 seconds, but not significantly different (P = 0.406). The VC result of exposed group was 3061.8±699.3 ml, FCV = 3070.7±855.9 ml, FEV1 = 2832.1±574.1 ml and FEV1/FCV = 112.9±133.9%, whereas the VC result of non exposed group was 3284.7±964.4 ml, FCV = 3361.5±2926.8 ml, FEV1 = 2926.8±719.3 ml and FEV1/FCV = 88.2±6.7%. The PFT results were also not significantly different between the groups (P > 0.01). Conclusion: Occupational exposure by gasoline vapour may affected the NMCC time and PFT but not different from the common population.