[Preliminary study on health effects in the residents exposed to liquefied petroleum gas].

ABSTRACT

Combustion of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) can cause indoor air pollution with sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, total suspended particulate (TSP) and total hydrocarbons. Mice exposed to the pollutant air for three months showed lower ANAE, prolonged sleep time, increased PCE micronucleus in bone marrow, high positivity in Ames test for the lung homogenate and deformity of sperm in males, with obvious dose-response relationship. Investigation on a human population exposed to LPG for more than five years revealed irritating symptoms in respiratory tract, nose and eyes, and prevalence of pharyngitis, rhinitis and conjunctivitis increased significantly. Positive Ames test and micronucleus test in peripheral erythrocytes were detected in concentrated urine samples collected from them. It is postulated this may be associated with the mutagenic pollutants contained in the waste gas emitted by combustion of LPG.