Abstract
Objective: Chemical substances, the number of which is increasing day by day, both make our lives easier and cause concern as they may cause negative health effects. Chemicals must be managed well in order to use them by minimizing possible health risks. Chronic rather than acute exposure to chemicals can have more dangerous consequences. Chronic exposure is also seen in occupational exposure. In presented article, chemicals exposed at fuel stations and their properties, possible health effects of occupational exposure to these chemicals and necessary precautions to minimize negative health effects are mentioned.
Result and Discussion: There are sales products such as gasoline, diesel and LPG at gas stations and these contain various chemicals. Benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene are main exposures. Benzene has been classified as Group 1“human carcinogen” and ethylbenzene Group 2B “possible human carcinogen” by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). Exposure to these substances in fuel is primarily by inhalation and dermal exposure. Possible health risks can be reduced if limit values determined by regulations are followed and protective measures such as gloves, masks and work clothes are taken. In many studies, serious health problems were observed in the exposure group, especially in individuals who did not take protective measures by comparing the individuals working and not working at the gas station. For this reason, it is necessary to apply protective measures strictly and to check that the chemicals do not exceed the limit values by making workplace air measurements.