Journal article

Detection of ethanol in Brazilian gasoline station attendants

BT Borille, TR Fiorentin, BC Coppe, E Comiran, AL Bemvenuti Jacques, TR Vieira Sousa, GG Pasa, F Pechansky, S Maris De Jezus Castro, RP Limberger

Analytical Methods | ROYAL SOC CHEMISTRY | Published : 2015

Abstract

In Brazil, gasoline station attendants are regularly exposed to the ethanol contained in fuel, as well as the one used as the gasoline additive. This study aimed to assess the potential exposure of these workers to fuels, using breathalyzers and oral fluid (OF) analysis by headspace gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (HS-GC/MS). Attendants of 26 gasoline stations were invited to respond to a questionnaire covering the main features of the study population and the profile of drinking and driving behavior, followed by a breath test and OF collection with a Quantisal™ device. All OF samples were analyzed by HS-GC/MS. Ethanol was found in 100% of the OF samples whereas 72.83% had concentration..

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University of Melbourne Researchers

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Funding Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank CNPq for financial support and scholarships. Also, the CPAD/HCPA personnel involved in the collection and analysis of samples, all gasoline station attendants who volunteered, all gasoline stations that participated, the State Traffic Department of Rio Grande do Sul (DETRAN-RS) by lending the breathalyzer, and Immunalysis Corporation for the donation of Quantisal (TM) OF collection devices, filters, and preservative buffer solution.