TITLE:
Effects of Gasoline Inhalation on Menstrual Characteristics and the Hormonal Profile of Female Petrol Pump Workers
AUTHORS:
Christopher E. Ekpenyong, Koofreh Davies, Nyebuk Daniel
KEYWORDS:
Adverse Reproductive Outcome; Female Worker; Gasoline Inhalation
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Environmental Protection,
Vol.4 No.8A,
August
12,
2013
ABSTRACT: Increasing
numbers of young women are employed as gasoline station attendants in most
developing countries despite the lack of empirical data on the adverse
reproductive health effect of this solvent. This study therefore sought to
assess the effects of gasoline inhalation on the serum sex hormone profile and
menstrual characteristics of female gasoline station attendants in Nigeria,
given the global increase in the rate of infertility and the existing evidence
on the reproductive toxicity of gasoline constituents. A site-by-site
cross-sectional study of 117 female gasoline pump attendants and 118 age-matched
controls was carried out between September 2011 and November 2012. The
following 3 instruments were used for data collection: a semi-structured
questionnaire, a female sex hormone profile assay and exposure status measures.
The prevalence of menstrual disorders among the exposed and unexposed women was
37.2% and 28.5% respectively. Exposure to gasoline was significantly associated
with disorders in both menstrual cycle length and quantity of flow.
Specifically, exposed women had a greater than threefold increased risk of a
menstrual disorder, with an odds ratio (OR) of 3.25 for abnormal cycle length
and OR of 4.16 for abnormal quantity of flow. In addition, longer duration of
exposure (>1 year) was significantly
associated with higher likelihood of menstrual disorders. There were also
persistent low serum levels of estradiol, and fluctuating levels of other
reproductive hormones. Gasoline inhalation may interfere with ovarian functions
leading to disordered menstrual characteristics and female sex hormone
profiles, as well as future reproductive impairment.