Health impact of occupational exposure to benzene in service station workers in the city of Guayaquil -Ecuador

Abstract

The present study aimed to evaluate the health impact associated with occupational exposure to benzene in fuel dispensers at service stations in the city of Guayaquil. This was a cross-sectional study with a mixed, descriptive-correlational approach, based on the application of internationally validated questionnaires and semi-structured interviews to 103 workers. The results revealed that 53.4% of workers reported at least one respiratory symptom, with the most prevalent being those with a work-related temporal relationship: improvement during weekends (17.5%), nocturnal cough (13.6%), and additional symptoms such as headache and dizziness. 83.5% of workers were exposed to fuel vapors for 6 or more hours daily. Statistical analysis showed no significant associations between individual risk factors (exposure time, PPE use, hygiene practices) and symptoms, suggesting that baseline exposure is elevated for the entire working population regardless of the protective measures implemented. These findings contribute to the generation of local empirical evidence to support the implementation of specific medical surveillance programs, periodic environmental measurements, and more robust engineering control strategies in the Ecuadorian service station sector.