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. 2021 May 20;2021:5553633. doi: 10.1155/2021/5553633

Table 3.

Distribution and values of HA and MHA biomarkers on signs and symptoms of gasoline station workers (occupationally exposed to VOCs) and office workers (comparison group) in Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), 2015–2017.

Variables Office workers1 (n = 100) Gasoline station workers2 (n = 275) p value3
Convenience store workers (n = 94) Filling station attendants (n = 181)
n (%) Median (min; max) n (%) Median (min; max) n (%) Median (min; max)
Altered mood/depression              
 HA 20 (20.0) 0.00 (0; 0.67) 39 (41.5)∗ 0.32 (0.06; 0.86) 44 (24.3) 0.22 (0; 1.60) <0.0001
 MHA 20 (20.0) 0.00 (0; 0.30) 39 (41.5)∗ 1.31 (0.22; 3.80) 44 (24.3) 1.25 (0; 7.46)  
Anxiety              
 HA 57 (57.0) 0.00 (0; 0.67) 51 (54.2) 0.32 (0; 10.38) 84 (46.4) 0.20 (0; 1.60) <0.0001
 MHA 57 (57.0) 0.00 (0; 0.31) 51 (54.2) 1.31 (0; 6.19) 84 (46.4) 0.87 (0; 7.46)  
Asthenia              
 HA 14 (14.0) 0.00 (0; 0.98) 11 (11.7) 0.28 (0.08; 0.71) 35 (19.3) 0.30 (0; 1.60) 0.0006
 MHA 14 (14.0) 0.00 (0; 0.03) 11 (11.7) 1.05 (0.29; 2.92) 35 (19.3) 1.31 (0; 7.46) <0.0001
Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder              
 HA 27 (27.0) 0.00 (0; 0.67) 24 (25.5) 0.28 (0.06; 1.05) 42 (23.2) 0.29 (0; 1.11) <0.0001
 MHA 27 (27.0) 0.00 (0; 0.31) 24 (25.5) 1.06 (0.29; 4.95) 42 (23.2) 1.42 (0; 5.50)  
Cramp              
 HA 23 (23.0) 0.00 (0; 0.98) 47 (50.5)∗ 0.35 (0.04; 1.38)# 59 (32.6) 0.22 (0; 1.08) <0.0001
 MHA 23 (23.0) 0.00 (0; 0.31) 47 (50.5)∗ 1.46 (0.16; 6.19)# 59 (32.6) 1.10 (0; 4.43)  
Difficulty seeing              
 HA 34 (34.0) 0.00 (0; 0.60) 26 (27.7) 0.29 (0.09; 1.23) 54 (29.8) 0.26 (0; 1.60) <0.0001
 MHA 34 (34.0) 0.00 (0; 0.31) 26 (27.7) 1.27 (0.22; 5.06) 54 (29.8) 1.19 (0; 7.46)  
Dizziness              
 HA 12 (12.0) 0.00 (0; 0.19) 40 (42.6)∗ 0.30 (0.04; 1.54) 41 (43.6) 0.21 (0; 1.60) <0.0001
 MHA 12 (12.0) 0.00 (0; 0.09) 40 (42.6)∗ 1.15 (0.16; 6.54) 41 (43.6) 0.88 (0; 7.46)  
Drowsiness              
 HA 25 (25.0) 0.00 (0; 0.67) 46 (48.9%)∗ 0.36 (0; 1.54)# 76 (42.0%)∗ 0.22 (0; 1.60) <0.0001
 MHA 25 (25.0) 0.00 (0; 0.30) 46 (48.9%)∗ 1.52 (0; 6.54) 76 (42.0%)∗ 1.10 (0; 7.46)  
Headache              
 HA 34 (34.0) 0 (0.00; 0.98) 46 (48.9%) 0.28 (0.06; 1.38)# 62 (34.2%) 0.22 (0; 1.11) <0.0001
 MHA 34 (34.0) 0.00 (0; 0.30) 46 (48.9%) 1.24 (0.22; 6.19) 62 (34.2%) 1.04 (0; 5.51)  
Insomnia              
 HA 24 (24.0) 0.00 (0; 0.47) 28 (29.7) 0.30 (0.06; 0.82) 42 (23.2) 0.24 (0; 1.60) <0.0001
 MHA 24 (24.0) 0.00 (0; 0.31) 28 (29.7) 1.31 (0.31; 3.58) 42 (23.2) 1.15 (0; 7.46)  
Involuntary movement              
 HA 15 (15.0) 0.00 (0; 0.43) 27 (28.7) 0.28 (0.06; 1.23) 44 (24.3) 0.21 (0; 1.08) <0.0001
 MHA 15 (15.0) 0.00 (0; 0.18) 27 (28.7) 1.28 (0.13; 5.06) 44 (24.3) 0.93 (0; 4.43)  
Irritability/nervousness              
 HA 36 (36.0) 0.00 (0; 0.98) 35 (37.2) 0.28 (0.06; 1.38) 63 (34.8) 0.22 (0; 1.60) <0.0001
 MHA 36 (36.0) 0.00 (0; 0.31) 35 (37.2) 0.28 (0.06; 1.38) 63 (34.8) 1.18 (0; 7.46)#  
Memory loss              
 HA 27 (27.0) 0.00 (0; 0.67) 29 (30.9) 0.27 (0.09; 1.05) 43 (23.8) 0.22 (0; 1.60) <0.0001
 MHA 27 (27.0) 0.00 (0; 0.31) 29 (30.9) 1.28 (0.22; 4.95) 43 (23.8) 1.26 (0; 7.46)  
Tingling              
 HA 19 (19.0) 0.00 (0; 0.98) 28 (29.8) 0.30 (0.04; 1.38) 36 (19.9) 0.19 (0.02; 0.91) <0.0001
 MHA 19 (19.0) 0.00 (0; 0.11) 28 (29.8) 1.21 (0.16; 6.19) 36 (19.9) 1.14 (0.19; 5.50)  
Tremor              
 HA 05 (5.0) 0.00 (0; 0.19) 09 (9.6) 0.25 (0.12; 1.20) 24 (13.3) 0.22 (0; 1.60) 0.0153
 MHA 05 (5.0) 0.00 (0; 0) 09 (9.6) 1.25 (0.43; 5.29) 24 (13.3) 0.98 (0; 7.46) 0.0024
Weakness              
 HA 12 (12.0) 0.00 (0; 0.43) 26 (27.7)∗ 0.32 (0.06; 0.83) 32 (17.7)∗ 0.25 (0; 1.60) <0.0001
 MHA 12 (12.0) 0.00 (0; 0.18) 26 (27.7)∗ 1.24 (0.29; 3.74) 32 (17.7)∗ 1.30 (0; 7.46)  
Weight loss              
 HA 07 (7.0) 0.00 (0; 0.06) 21 (22.8)∗ 0.25 (0; 0.91) 13 (7.2) 0.37 (0.12; 0.89) <0.0001
 MHA 07 (7.0) 0.00 (0; 0.12) 21 (22.8)∗ 1.02 (0; 4.64) 13 (7.2) 1.88 (0.57; 3.62)  

1Not occupationally exposed to toluene and xylene. 2Occupationally exposed to toluene and xylene. 3Kruskal–Wallis test. ∗Higher frequency of HA and MHA biomarkers compared to OW or between exposed groups, CSW and FSA (chi-square test, p < 0.05). #Higher level of HA and MHA biomarkers when CSW and FSA were compared (Kruskal–Wallis test with Dunn's posttest, p < 0.05).