POTENTIAL HEALTH-EFFECTS OF GASOLINE AND ITS CONSTITUENTS - A REVIEW OF CURRENT LITERATURE (1990-1997) ON TOXICOLOGICAL DATA

We reviewed toxicological studies, both experimental and epidemiologic al, that appeared in international literature in the period 1990-1937 and included both leaded and unleaded gasolines as well as their compo nents and additives. The aim of this overview was to select, arrange, and present references of scientific papers published during the perio d under consideration and to summarize the data in order to give a com prehensive picture of the results of toxicological studies performed i n laboratory animals (including carcinogenic, teratogenic, or embryoto xic activity), mutagenicity and genotoxic aspects in mammalian and bac terial systems, and epidemiological results obtained in humans in rela tion to gasoline exposure. This paper draws attention to the inherent difficulties in assessing with precision any potential adverse effects on health, that is, the risk of possible damage to man and his enviro nment from gasoline. The difficulty of risk assessment still exists de spite the fact that the studies examined are definitely more technical ly valid than those of earlier years. The uncertainty in overall risk determination from gasoline exposure also derives from the conflicting results of different studies, from the lack of a correct scientific a pproach in some studies, from the variable characteristics of the diff erent gasoline mixtures, and from the difficulties of correctly handli ng potentially confounding variables related to lifestyle (e.g., cigar ette smoking, drug use) or to preexisting pathological conditions. In this respect, this paper highlights the need for accurately assessing the conclusive explanations reported in scientific papers so as to avo id the spread of inaccurate or misleading information on gasoline toxi city in nonscientific papers and in mass-media messages.