title: BTEX air concentrations and self-reported common health problems in gasoline sellers from Cotonou, Benin.
abstract: To examine the relation between BTEX exposure levels and common self-reported health problems in 140 gasoline sellers in Cotonou, Benin, a questionnaire documenting their socioeconomic status and their health problems was used, whereas 18 of them went through semi-directed qualitative individual interviews and 17 had air samples taken on their workplace for BTEX analysis. Median concentrations for BTEX were significantly lower on official (range of medians: 54-207 μg/m³, n = 9) vs unofficial (148-1449 μg/m³, n = 8) gasoline-selling sites (p < 0.05). Self-reported health problems were less frequently reported in sellers from unofficial vs official selling sites (p < 0.05), because, as suggested by the semi-directed interviews, of their fear of losing their important, but illegal, source of income. Concluding, this study has combined quantitative and qualitative methodological approaches to account for the complex socioeconomic and environmental conditions of the investigated sellers, leading to their, in some cases, preoccupying BTEX exposure.
authors.affiliation: a Environment and Health Research Center, School of Public Health , Université Libre de Bruxelles , Bruxelles , Belgium.
authors.forename: Honesty Gbèdolo
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Tohon
authors.forename: Benjamin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Fayomi
authors.forename: Mathieu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Valcke
authors.forename: Yves
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Coppieters
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bouland
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D001541:Benin; D001554:Benzene / Q000032:analysis*; D001555:Benzene Derivatives / Q000032:analysis*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D057566:Self Report; D001335:Vehicle Emissions / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D001555:Benzene Derivatives; D001335:Vehicle Emissions; D001554:Benzene
keywords: BTEX; developing countries; gasoline sellers; human health; occupational exposure