Riesgo toxicológico del monóxido de carbono en trabajadores de las islas de recarga de hidrocarburos en la terminal de Petroecuador de la ciudad de Cuenca

Abstract

The existence of carbon monoxide in a workplace in concentrations that exceed the limits established by national and international regulations, is a cause of worldwide concern and interest for the risks that its presence may represent for human health. With a quasi-experimental design, the measurement of carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) (spectrophotometry) with the use of the Detector Rad 57-Masimo Rainbow was performed before and after the working day by means of pulse oximetry to the main staff of the Recharge Islands in Petroecuador in Cuenca Terminal (ITCPE) and the results of the exposed group against an unexposed group of similar characteristics. At the same time, environmental carbon monoxide monitoring was carried out in the work areas by using the Altair 5X MSA environmental CO detector equipment owned by the Petroecuador company, a survey applied to the main staff demonstrated the toxicological risk that they are daily exposed. At The end-of the, day COHb had a significant increase according with the data at the beginning of the day. (P = 0.05), the values are significant higher than 3.5% established (maximum for work exposure). The concentration of the environmental CO of the Recharge Islands in Petroecuador in Cuenca Terminal at the end of the day was slightly higher than the established limits, values of CP = 1.023, FE = 0.93807 were obtained. The most frequent symptomatology reported by the exposed group to CO was: sore throat (50%) and cough (50%). The average system allowed ensure the accomplishment of the sanitary regulations, and suggested the control in the use of safety equipment and the implementation of other ventilation mechanisms to help the reduce the risk to human health.