Effect of Gasoline and Paint Products on Cardiac Markers and Blood Glucose

Hydrocarbons (benzene, toluene, ethyl benzene and xylene (BTEX) found in gasoline and organic solvents are ubiquitous in the environment, and are known to have toxic effects in human system. This study therefore investigated in workers occupationally exposed to gasoline and paint products, the levels of glucose, apoprotein-B100 and cardiac troponin-I as indices of diabetes and cardiac functions. A total of 162 subjects were recruited for this study; (56 gasoline pump attendants and 56 paint factory workers) and 50 subjects as control. Sample collected were used for the estimation of Fasting blood sugar (FBS) using spectrophotometer; Apoprotein-B100 and troponin-I using Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) techniques. APOB-100 was significantly higher (P<0.05) in the gasoline workers (2.30±0.85) than in the paint workers (1.86±1.12) and control subjects (1.90±0.77). The mean Troponin-I level was significantly higher in the gasoline workers (10.35±4.87) than in the paint workers (4.65±2.71) and in control group (8.14±5.13) (P=0.000). The mean glucose level, body mass index, systolic and diastolic blood pressures were of non-significant difference (P>0.05) across the groups. The correlation coefficient between Apo-B100 and Troponin-I with the duration of exposures for gasoline and paint products showed non-significant negative correlations (P>0.05) respectively. Our result finding is suggestive of significant alterations in the serum levels of Apo-B100 and Troponin-I as evidently shown by the significant elevations of APO-B100 and Troponin-I in workers exposed to both gasoline and paint products than in control subjects. Thus, workers exposed to gasoline and paint products could be predisposed to cardiovascular diseases at later age.