Exposición a monóxido de carbono en trabajadores de control vehicular-Cuenca: estudio exploratorio

Abstract

This exploratory study aims to evaluate the carbon monoxide exposure expressed as percentage of carboxyhemoglobin (%COHb) among the vehicle-examiners of the vehicle control centers (VCC) “DANTON”-Cuenca. All the employees (N=55) in both VCCs in Cuenca (Capulispamba and Mayancela) were included. Blood samples taken at the beginning and at the end of the journey of one day at early February, April and July 2013 were used to estimate %COHb. The results show that the %COHb increased from the beginning to the end of the journey among employees in both VCCs and among smokers and nonsmokers (P<0.001). Among non-smokers (N=42), the %COHb at the end of the journey was higher than the biological limit value (BLV) of 3.5% only for Mayancela employees (4.12%, P<0.05). Among smokers, the mean %COHb at the end of the journey was higher than the BLV in both VCCs. In general, Mayancela employees and those who smoke showed higher exposition to CO measured as a %COHb.