Background: Occupational exposure to toxic chemicals such as gasoline is a major public health concern worldwide. Gasoline is one of the most frequently utilized chemicals whose use is on the increase. When absorbed, the volatile constituents of gasoline generate free radicals leading to oxidative stress. In order to maintaining homeostasis and protect itself against the effects of reactive oxygen species and their derivatives, the body has developed a robust mechanism using substances known as antioxidants. Antioxidants can either be a vitamin like beta-carotene, vitamin C and vitamin E or an enzyme like catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and thioredoxin reductase.
Methods: This is a cohort study to compare Antioxidant vitamins (A, C and E), between 90 roadside dispensers of gasoline and 90 age and sex matched controls. Vitamins A, C and E assays were performed using an Ultra sensitive and specific HPLC.
Results: The mean age of the exposed and control groups are 29.03 ± 3.7 and 29.24 ± 3.5 years respectively. The mean plasma levels of vitamins A (54.45 ± 6.4 µg/dl), vitamin C (0.68 ± 0.13µg/dl) and vitamin E (0.72 ± 0.10 µg/dl), of the exposed were significantly (p< 0.001) lower than the controls (1.29 ± 0.25mmol/L, 69.82 ± 5.4µg/dl, 1.06 ± 0.13µg/dl, respectively).
Conclusion: Our data has demonstrated lower levels of antioxidant vitamins in roadside dispensers of gasoline compared to the controls. This is an indication that roadside gasoline dispensers are probably at greater risk of developing chronic diseases associated with increase oxidative stress. Antioxidant supplementation may be of benefit to the road side gasoline dispensers.
Key words: Vitamins, Antioxidants, Occupational Exposure, Benzene, Chemical Exposure, Gasoline, Gombe
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