Spirometric Findings in Petrol Pump Attendants in Sagamu Southwest Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Petrol pump attendant is an occupation practised worldwide. It exposes these groups of workers to petrol fumes especially in sub-Saharan Africa where petrol pump attendants is still the norm. Study Objective: To determine the effect of petrol fumes on ventilatory function among petrol pump attendants in Sagamu, Ogun State, Southwest Nigeria. Study Design: Analytical cross sectional study. Subjects, Materials and Methods: All 142 petrol pump attendants in Sagamu, Ogun State, Southwest Nigeria were recruited for the study but only 106 that met inclusion criteria were used with age, sex, weight and height matched controls. Relevant data were collected using the modified British Medical Research Council Questionnaire and the ventilatory function parameters of the subjects and controls were measured with an electronic spirometer. Results: The mean values of ventilatory function parameters (FEV1, FVC, FEV1/FVC and PEFR) of petrol pump attendants were lower than that of controls but only that for PEFR (p value, 0.03) was statistically significant. The mean ventilatory parameters by the work hour per week and by the number of vehicles filled per day were statistically significant for FEV1/FVC, PEFR (p values 0.01, 0.03) and FEV1, FEV1/FVC, PEFR (p values= 0.03, 0.02, 0.01) respectively. Abnormal ventilatory function was seen in a sizable number of petrol pump attendants 32(30.2%) which consisted of obstructive defects 20 (18.9%) and restrictive defects 12 (11.3%) compared to 14(13.2%) and 8(7.5%) in the control groups respectively. The difference was not statistically significant. The mean ventilatory function parameters in petrol pump attendants who smoke was lower than in control groups who smoke. The difference was statistically significant for FEV1/FVC (p= 0.004). The mean ventilatory function parameters in non-smoking petrol pump attendants were significantly lower than in non-smoking controls with p values of 0.005, 0.025 and 0.004 for FEV1, FVC and PEFR respectively. There was no statistically significant difference in the mean ventilatory function parameters of petrol pump attendants who smoke and those who do not smoke. Conclusion: The study showed that exposure to petrol fumes among petrol pump attendants (who had worked as such for more than one year) had a significant effect on their ventilatory function. The study also showed that abnormal ventilatory pattern was prevalent in petrol pump attendants. The predominant ventilatory dysfunction was obstructive.