Risks related to the domestic laundering of filling station attendant uniforms: advances and uncertainties

Abstract

Gasoline is the most common transportation fuel in Brazil, with up to 1% of benzene. Benzene is a health-damaging organic solvent that is extensively used worldwide, being classified as a human carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (Group 1). Many workers at filling stations are exposed to benzene, present in gasoline. The main routes of exposure and absorption of benzene are inhalation, oral, and dermal routes. The penetration and maintenance of benzene and other chemicals on personal protective equipment and clothing of workers who manipulate these solvents may increase their levels of exposure and offer risks to their family members, since contaminated clothing is laundered at their homes, which goes against legislative framework (Annex 2, Regulatory Standard No. 9). This way, the objective of this work was to discuss the importance of periodic changes and cleaning of filling station attendant uniforms performed by employers as preventive measures against the deterioration of the health of workers and their family members. We performed a narrative review; no systematic criteria were used in the search for national and international studies. After critical reading, we observed a lack of consistent data on this theme. Laundering of uniforms worn by filling station attendants should take place outside the domestic environment in order to protect the health of workers and their family members and avoid possible cross-contamination.

Contagem de Reticulócitos e suas Frações Imaturas como Indicador Precoce de Alteração Medular em Trabalhadores de Postos de Combustíveis

“…Figueiredo et al 6 , studying the concentration of substances utilized to produce gasoline at gas stations in the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, noticed that benzene concentrations were above the levels recommended by the current legislation and that these places were potentially dangerous for gas station workers who refuel on daily bases due to the carcinogenic potential of this substance 21 .…”

Hematological Changes in Gas Station Workers

“…9 [26] states that all workers should have another uniform in case of an accident (including soaking with fuel); in addition, the employer should wash the uniforms to minimize exposure to workers and their families. However, this is not routinely undertaken, especially laundering the uniform, bringing more risk to the workers [27].…”