Adverse Health Effects among Oil Exposed Workers in a Gas Derivatives Extraction Plant: A Comparative Cross-sectional Study

K, Gaafar; DA, Abozaid; DM, El-Hossiney; KM, Abd Elaziz

doi:10.21608/ejom.2025.402055.1377

Adverse Health Effects among Oil Exposed Workers in a Gas Derivatives Extraction Plant: A Comparative Cross-sectional Study

Document Type : Study paper

Authors

Department of Community, Environmental and Occupational Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Egypt

10.21608/ejom.2025.402055.1377

Abstract

Introduction: Occupational exposure to highly volatile lipid-soluble hydrocarbons has been linked with numerous health hazards such as impairment of respiratory, cardiovascular, kidney and liver functions. Aim of Work: To identify possible health hazards of occupational exposure to liquefied natural gas and its related emissions among workers in oil sector industry in terms of respiratory, dermatological, hematological, liver and kidney function parameters. Materials and Methods: A comparative cross-sectional study was conducted in one of the largest gas derivatives extraction plants in Egypt. Participants were divided into two groups: 311 oil exposed workers and 99 non-exposed. Data collection was done by using a well- structured interview questionnaire including personal and occupational characteristics, physical examination, spirometry and laboratory investigations (CBC, ESR, CRP, ALT, AST, Creatinine, BUN). Results: Exposed workers showed significant hematological changes such as low WBC (7.26 vs. 9.08 ×10⁹/L), high hemoglobin and RBC count (14.87 vs. 13.69 g/dL; 5.47 vs. 4.75 × 10¹²/L). Respiratory symptoms such as morning cough (52.4% vs. 9.1%) and productive cough (30.5% vs. 13.1%) were more frequent among the exposed group with significant reduction in spirometry measurements (FVC/PVC: 95.2% vs. 101.4%, FEV1/FVC :83.0% vs%,8.7%). Dermatological symptoms were also higher among the exposed group, including eczema (33.4% vs. 15.2%) and rash (26.4% vs. 15.2%) .Liver enzymes (ALT: 37.8 vs. 29.1; AST: 41.4 vs. 28.2 U/L) and blood urea (42.6 vs. 26.7 mg/dL) were significantly elevated, .Conclusion and Recommendations: Occupational exposure to LNG and its related emissions was associated with numerous adverse health effects, including respiratory, dermatological, hematological and biochemical changes . Effective occupational health and safety measures are warranted to protect those workers from long-term health effects.

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