Biochemical and haematological assessment of workers exposed to some petroleum products in Rnugu Urban, Rnugu State, Nigeria.
BACKGROUND
Exposure to petroleum product(s) occurs during extraction, refining, transportation and utilisation. Surprisingly, this relatively common hazard has received little public recognition. We therefore studied the adverse effects of petroleum products among occupationally exposed liquefied petroleum gas and histochemical workers in Enugu Urban, Nigeria.


METHODS
Eight industries/departments were surveyed. Sixty workers were tested for some biochemical and haematological parameters (phosphatases, transaminases, complete blood count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate), were analysed, using standard methods. Also, 30 age and sex-matched apparently healthy subjects served as the control group.


RESULTS
When the test and control results were compared, there were statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) in: (1) haematocrit, reticulocytes, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, platelet, lymphocyte, monocyte, alkaline phosphatase, aspartate transaminase, alanine transaminase among liquefied petroleum gas workers and (2) haemoglobin, haematocrit, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, platelets, neutrophil, lymphocyte, monocytes, acid phosphatases and alkaline phosphatase among histochemical workers. Overall, there was statistically significant decrease (p < 0.05) in most of the parameters among the test subjects when compared with the control group. Blood films of the workers revealed mild to moderate hypochromia, anisocytosis and poikilocytosis while the controls were normocytic and normochromic.


CONCLUSIONS
We conclude that exposure to petroleum products adversely affects biochemical and haematological parameters. Hence, improved working conditions are recommended.
Ukaejiofo
E O
EO
Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences and Technology, University of Nigeria, Enugu State, Nigeria.
Nubila
T
T
Ike
S O
SO
D000328:Adult; D001774:Blood Chemical Analysis; D001799:Blood Sedimentation; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D006403:Hematologic Tests; D006454:Hemoglobins; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009549:Nigeria; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010578:Petroleum / Q000633:toxicity*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors
D006454:Hemoglobins; D010578:Petroleum