TITLE:
Health Effect of Occupational Exposure to Pollutants from Fuels, Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire
AUTHORS:
Kouakou Serge Kouassi, Gnogbo Alexis Bahi, Kipré Laurent Séri, Jean-Luc N’Guessan, Pierre Ehuie, Allico Joseph Djaman
KEYWORDS:
Fuels Exposure, Heavy Metals, Biomarkers, Workplace Pollution, Abidjan
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Air Pollution,
Vol.13 No.4,
November
12,
2024
ABSTRACT: The presence of chemical constituents from fuels in the work atmosphere can reduce workplace and have a serious impact on human health. In this study, we determined the constituents of unleaded and diesel fuel sold in the District of Abidjan, notably sulfur and lead, and assessed the impact on mechanics, pump attendants and painters. Twenty tow fuel samples collected in the district of Abidjan, including 14 from legal sites distribution and 8 from illegal sites, were analyzed to determine the sulfur and lead content. Blood was collected among 45 volunteers, including 15 mechanics, 15 painters and 15 pump attendants to hematological and biochemical analysis. The results show that sulfur levels ranged from 1530 ppm to 1900 ppm and from 94.9 ppm to 9.4 ppm in diesel and unleaded fuel respectively. Sulfur values below Côte d’Ivoire standard of 1500 - 3500 ppm for diesel and 500 - 1500 ppm for unleaded fuel but remain above international standard of 10 pp. Fuel characterization did not show the presence of lead in any of the tested fuel samples. Blood results showed MCHC values above of reference values for all professionals, while MCH values were below reference values. Neutrophil values were low compared with reference values in all occupational groups of mechanics and pump attendants, while lymphocyte results were 48.20% and 52.50% for mechanics and fuel attendants respectively were well above reference values. GGT values ranged from 42 ± 14.98 IU/l to 87 ± 3.45 were well above reference values. However, the GGT levels of pump attendants were significantly (P