Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) by Petrochemicals among Fuel Attendants

Abstract

Introduction: Petroleum also known as crude oil is a naturally occurring yellowish-black liquid found in geological formations beneath the Earth's surface. It is commonly refined into various types of fuels. Congestive heart failure has been defined as global pandemic, since it affects around 26 million people worldwide. Fuel attendants engaged in these environments are continuously exposed to petrol and diesel fumes which results in hazards of the human system such as the heart, liver and kidney. The purpose of this study is to determine the congestive heart failure by petrochemicals among fuel attendants. Methods: The total sample size for this study was 200 samples. Of them, 100 were included as case group. They were fuel attendants who work at the various filling stations visited in the LGA. Their main direct sources of exposure were inhalation, accidental ingestion, and skin contact, among others. These samples were collected from people who are within the age range of 15-50 years. Result: This study shows that cardiac enzymes Troponin I has a mean value of 16.83 in fuel attendants compared to the mean value of 7.12 in non-fuel attendants in Oluyole Area, Ibadan. This is statistically significant (p <0.01) with 133%. Troponin C has a mean value of 16.69 in fuel attendants compared to the mean value of 7.31 among non-fuel attendants in Oluyole Area, Ibadan. This is statistically significant (p <0.01) with 114%. Troponin T has a mean value of 16.94 in fuel attendants compared to the mean value of 7.56 in non-fuel attendants in Oluyole Area, Ibadan. This is statistically significant (p <0.01) with 112%. Conclusion: This study shows that exposure to petrochemicals can cause biochemical changes in the heart leading to the release of enzymes into the blood stream which serve as biomarker tools for the diagnosis of the risk of cardiovascular diseases such as congestive heart failure. Other petrochemical effect includes elevated blood pressure. Fuel attendants should be screened for heart related diagnosis before employed, this will reduce the risk of employing attendants with heart related disease leading to heart failure. Timely, regular medical checkup should be done while working as a fuel attendant and it is also achievable to create time in having physical exercise which reduces the risk of being above the BMI which consistently reduces the risk of heart related disease.