Benzene ; Gasoline vapor recovery system ; Gas station ; Hippuric acid ; t ; t-MA ; Toluene
Abstract
Objectives: This study aims to investigate the excretion aspect of urinary t, t-MA and hippuric acid by measuring concentrations of urinary metabolites according to the use of gasoline vapor recovery system.
Materials:In order to analyze urinary metabolites, samples from the 23 gas station workers ten gas stations in the Seoul and Gyeonggi Province area were collected once daily after work. In addition, a survey was conducted on work factors and lifestyle habits as factors affecting the concentration of urinary metabolites.
Results: The average concentrations of t, t-MA and hippuric acid after work were 0.124±0.177 mg/g creatinine and 0.557±0.251 g/g creatinine among workers at gas stations where gasoline vapor recovery systems were installed. The average concentrations of t, t-MA and hippuric acid were 0.160±0.113 mg/g creatinine and 0.682±0.619 g/g creatinine among workes at gas stations where gasoline vapor recovery systems were not installed. Average concentrations were higher at gas stations where a gasoline vapor recovery system was not installed, but the differences were not statistically significant differences. Urinary t, t-MA and hippuric acid average concentrations of smokers and non-smokers were higher in the gas stations where gasoline a vapor recovery system was not installed. T, t-MA as a factor evaluation affecting the concentration of urinary metabolites was not statistically significant in all factors, while hippuric acid was statistically significant only for age(p=0.024).
Conclusions: The average concentrations of urinary t, t-MA and hippuric acid were higher in gas stations where gasoline vapor recovery systems were not installed compared to gas stations where such a system was installed. There needs to be an assessment of biological monitoring according to refueling activity considering skin absorption of benzene and toluene and presence of gasoline vapor recovery system