Banca de DEFESA: TATIANA DE MEDEIROS CARVALHO MENDES

Uma banca de DEFESA de DOUTORADO foi cadastrada pelo programa.
STUDENT : TATIANA DE MEDEIROS CARVALHO MENDES
DATE: 17/06/2026
TIME: 09:00
LOCAL: Auditório 1 do Departamento de Comunicação da UFRN
TITLE:

 

WORK AT FUEL RETAIL STATIONS: IMPACTS ON HEALTH AND THE CHALLENGE OF WORKER HEALTH SURVEILLANCE

KEY WORDS:

Work. Gas station. Occupational exposure. Occupational health. Occupational health surveillance.

PAGES: 282
BIG AREA: Ciências da Saúde
AREA: Saúde Coletiva
SUBÁREA: Saúde Pública
SUMMARY:

 

Introduction: Work at gas stations exposes workers to occupational hazards, particularly to benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene (BTEX), compounds associated with several adverse health effects. This study is justified by the need to expand knowledge about the impacts of occupational exposure on workers’ health, incorporating workers’ perspectives and the development of health surveillance actions aimed at protecting this occupational group. Objective: This study aimed to analyze the health impacts of occupational exposure among gas station workers. Methodology: This mixed-methods study was conducted in five stages. It included the development of protocols and the conducting of a systematic review, with meta-analysis, on the prevalence of symptoms associated with BTEX exposure, following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, as well as a scoping review to map health surveillance actions based on the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) methodology. In addition, an exploratory qualitative study grounded in Bardin’s thematic analysis was carried out to understand workers’ perceptions regarding occupational risks and illnesses. As a technical product, an educational booklet targeted at this occupational group was developed. Results: The findings of the systematic review demonstrated that BTEX exposure at gas stations causes multisystemic impacts, with a higher prevalence of neurological symptoms, such as headache, fatigue, and dizziness, and respiratory symptoms, including cough and dyspnea. Comparative analyses indicated an association between occupational exposure and the outcomes of headache, cough, and dyspnea, suggesting a higher occurrence among exposed workers. The qualitative study revealed that workers have limited awareness of the chronic risks and systemic effects related to occupational exposure. Although they recognize exposure to benzene, they lack knowledge about its health impacts and do not have access to adequate personal protective equipment (PPE). This scenario, combined with insufficient health monitoring and the absence of surveillance actions in the sector, contributes to the invisibility of occupational health problems and highlights shortcomings in occupational health surveillance and health communication. The scoping review identified substantial scientific production regarding the effects of occupational BTEX exposure, confirming the recognized relevance of the topic and concerns about its health impacts. However, the scarcity of studies addressing concrete surveillance actions, limited to Mexico and Brazil, revealed a gap between advances in scientific knowledge and their practical application in public policies and prevention programs. Final Considerations: The findings highlight the need to strengthen

COMMITTEE MEMBERS:
Presidente - 2626690 - JANETE LIMA DE CASTRO
Interna - 1543230 - ELIANA COSTA GUERRA
Externo ao Programa - 1204045 - JOSE ADAILTON DA SILVA - UFRNExterna à Instituição - ISABELA CARDOSO DE MATOS PINTO - UFBA
Externo à Instituição - JOSÉ AGENOR ÁLVARES DA SILVA - FIOCRUZ