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Harsukh Educational Charitable Society International Journal of Community Health and Medical Research

Volume1Iissue 1 September-December 2015

Original Articles

Effect of Automobile Exhaust on Pulmonary Function Tests in Petrol Pump Workers
Meenal Batta, Shashi Kant Dhir

Background: Inhalation of automobile exhaust and fuel vapours predisposes petrol pump workers to respiratory disorders leading to pulmonary function impairment. This study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of automobile exhaust and fuel vapours on the pulmonary functions of petrol pump workers in a city of Punjab, India. Material and Methods: This study was an observational case control study comprising of 200 subjects. The pulmonary function tests were analysed using Medspirorâ„¢ among one hundred adult petrol pump workers who were working since one year at the filling station and were being exposed to the automobile exhaust and fuel vapours. Age matched controls were taken from the healthy paramedical staff working in the medical college. The data was statistically analysed by student t-test and Mann-Whitney U test. The mean and standard deviation were calculated and reported for the quantitative variables. P value of less than 0.05 was considered significant. Results: The baseline variables did not differ in the cases and controls. The FVC, FEV1, FEV3, PEFR, FEF25%, FEF50%, FEF75%, FEF25-75% and MVV were found to be significantly decreased in cases as compared to controls (p value <0.001 in all of them). There was statistically insignificant difference in the FEV1/FVC% and FEV3/FVC% between the two groups. Conclusion: The exposure to automobile exhaust in petrol pump workers leads to the deterioration of the pulmonary functions. Strategies should be planned at various levels to protect the exposed persons from their deleterious effects. Keywords: Automobile exhaust; Fuel vapours; Pulmonary function tests; Petrol pump workers

 
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