HYPERTENSION AMONG WORKERS OCCUPATIONALLY EXPOSED TO HYDROCARBONS ANDORGANIC-SOLVENTS

The aim of this study was to determine prevalence of the possible risk factors associated-with hypertension among workers occupationally exp osed to gasoline vapour. This study consisted of 86 cases [chronic hyd rocarbon exposure group] and 86 controls [sedentary officers] matched for age and nationality in Al-Ain, United Arab Emirates. Mean age for the hydrocarbon exposed group was 36.9 +/- 7.8 years and for the contr ol group it was 37.9 +/- 7.5 years. Dizziness (66.7%), weakness (47.4% ), tiredness (55%), and general malaise (83.3%) was more frequently re ported by exposed groups than in controls. 71.4% of the exposed group and 28.6% of the controls have had taken medication for high blood pre ssure, the difference was statistically significant (p < 0.001). 60% o f the exposed and 40% of the unexposed admitted to being diabetic and taking medications for diabetes during the past six months. Cigarette smoking was more popular among the exposed group (55.7%). Systolic blo od pressure 90(th) percentile (P90) for the exposed group was 140 whil e for the unexposed group it was 130. There was also a significant dif ference in the 90(th) percentile for Cummulative Exposure Index (CEI) for the exposed group (8.57) and the unexposed group (3.33). The 90(th ) percentile for obese in the unexposed group was 32.9 while for the e xposed group it was 28.7. The results of stepwise regression analysis showed that only age, medical complaints and systolic blood pressure v ariables were found statistically significant predictors as a risk fac tors. But, dizziness, weakness, tiredness,diastolic blood pressure, pu lse body mass index (BMI) and urinary lead variables did not entered i nto the model to have a significant roles.