Medical experts have urged pregnant women to avoid constant exposure to petrol fumes, warning that it could lead to childhood leukaemia, preterm delivery, low birth weight, and developmental problems in their babies.
They further explained that prolonged exposure to petrol fumes could also cause gestational diabetes, thyroid dysfunction, and reproductive problems in pregnant women, while increasing the risk of neuro-developmental issues and lung immaturity in their babies.
The physicians further advised pregnant women working at fuel stations or in jobs requiring constant petrol exposure to seek immediate redeployment and use protective equipment where exposure is unavoidable.
A research, titled “Effects of Gasoline Inhalation on Menstrual Characteristics and the Hormonal Profile of Female Petrol Pump Workers,” found that women exposed to petrol fumes were significantly more likely to experience abnormal menstrual cycles and altered hormone levels compared with those not exposed.
The study also found persistently low levels of estradiol (a naturally occurring steroid hormone and the primary female sex hormone) and fluctuations in other reproductive hormones among the exposed women, suggesting disruption of normal ovarian function, leading to long-term fertility problems.
Commenting on the issue, Emeritus Professor Ifeoma Okoye explained that petrol fumes are a mix of chemicals called volatile organic compounds, including benzene and other solvents.
The professor identified two broad categories of risks for pregnant women exposed to petrol fumes, stating that immediate short-term effects on the mother include headache, dizziness, nausea, throat and eye irritation, cough, worsening asthma, and fatigue, especially in enclosed or poorly ventilated environments.
She added that pregnancy-related risks with higher or repeated exposure include miscarriage, preterm delivery, and low birth weight or poor foetal growth.
Also speaking, the National President of the Endocrine and Metabolism Society of Nigeria, Prof Andrew Uloko, described pregnancy as a special and delicate period in the life of a woman and the unborn child.
Uloko further noted that the child is also exposed to developmental issues ranging from organs that are not well-formed to neurodevelopmental issues, central nervous system involvement, brain involvement, lung immaturity, asthma, and airway problems.
The Professor of Medicine and Endocrinology at Bayero University, Kano, stated that exposure to chemicals like petrol, which contains many dangerous components, would affect the health of the mother and baby very adversely.
Furthermore, he urged pregnant women who have been unduly exposed to petrol to urgently seek medical help, adding that they should go to the hospital to meet a qualified medical doctor, explain the situation, and receive proper evaluation, assessment, and appropriate treatment to save the life of the mother and the unborn child.
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