Abstract

Introduction: India is a rapidly developing country and automobiles plying on roads are increasing each day. This has led to an increase in petrol pump stations and petrol pump workers and also exposure of petrol pump workers to vapours of petrol and gases from exhaust of automobiles. Petrol vapours and gases from automobile exhaust have a deleterious effect on the respiratory system. In the present study an attempt has been made to study the effect of inhalation of petrol vapour and gases from automobile exhaust on lung functions of petrol pump workers.
 
Materials and Methods: This is a prospective, descriptive and observational study conducted in the Department of Physiology, Index Medical College, Hospital and Research center Indore from Period of study from January 2021 to December 2022. They are 3 groups in our study: Group-I normal health individual-(N=50), Group-II  fuel filling workers-(N=50) andGroup-III construction workers-(N=50).
 
Results: In our study, the most of workers age group is 18-30 years i.e., 19 out of 50, followed by 31-40 years, i.e., 17 out of 50 in Group I and in Group II 18-30 years i.e., 18 out of 50, followed by 31-40 years, i.e., 17 out of 50. In Group III 18-30 years i.e., 20 out of 50, followed by 31-40 years, i.e., 12 out of 50. Group I out of 50, 39 subjects were male and 11 were female subjects. In Group II 36 were male and 14 were female subjects. In Group III 39 subjects were male and 11 were female subjects. The Mean Working hours of participants of Group I is 8.10±0.37 and Group II is 8.10±0.37 Group III in 8.10±0.37. All the parameters of Pulmonary Function Test were significantly difference among 3 groups.
Conclusion: The present study adds evidence that cement dust adversely affects the respiratory functions and this impairment is association with duration of exposure to cement dust. It also suggests that the workers must undergo pre-employment and periodic medical examination including lung function test. Thus, this study showed existing changes in pulmonary function related to dust exposure, and generated evidence to integrate primary prevention methods towards dust- related morbidity and mortality.