title: Effect of exposure to solid wastes in relation to employment duration on some important markers of health and disease in waste management workers of Ogun State in southwest Nigeria.
abstract: Waste management workers (WMWs) around the world are at risk of work-related health disorders. The influence of employment duration on individuals occupationally exposed to solid waste was investigated in this study. The study comprised (n = 280) 180 WMWs and 100 controls. Employment duration was obtained from questionnaire survey and categorized into three groups: group I (0.5-2 years), group II (>2-4 years) and group III (>4-6 years). Blood sample (10 ml) was collected from the antecubital vein of subjects for analysis. WMWs exhibited significantly (p < 0.001) elevated inflammatory markers (erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP) and ceruloplasmin (Cp)) relative to control. While Cp increased, ESR and CRP decreased with increasing WMWs' employment duration. Alteration in oxidant/antioxidant markers was characterized by significant (p < 0.001) decrease in ferric-reducing ability of plasma (FRAP) and catalase activity together with marked (p < 0.01) elevation of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and uric acid (UA). TBARS, UA and FRAP increased while catalase decreased with WMWs' employment duration. In addition, WMWs exhibited significantly (p < 0.01) elevated immunoglobulin A (IgA) and IgG, which also increased and decreased, respectively, with job duration. The significantly (p < 0.01) decreased haemoglobin and haematocrit levels as well as the significantly (p < 0.001) elevated total leukocytes in WMWs increased with employment duration. Alanine aminotransferase increased and albumin decreased significantly (p < 0.05) in WMWs, and these changes also increased and decreased, respectively, with job duration. Data suggest that levels of alteration of important systemic markers of health/disease are related to WMWs' employment or exposure duration.
authors.affiliation: 1Department of Chemical Pathology, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Sagamu, Ogun State, Nigeria.
authors.forename: Adesina O
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Odewabi
authors.forename: Omobola A
authors.initials: OA
authors.lastname: Ogundahunsi
authors.forename: Martins
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ekor
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000097:blood; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001799:Blood Sedimentation; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D002374:Catalase; D005260:Female; D005978:Glutathione / Q000097:blood; D006400:Hematocrit; D006454:Hemoglobins; D006801:Humans; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000097:blood; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009549:Nigeria; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D062611:Solid Waste; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances / Q000032:analysis; D018505:Waste Management
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D006454:Hemoglobins; D007136:Immunoglobulins; D062611:Solid Waste; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D002374:Catalase; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase; D005978:Glutathione
keywords: Solid wastes; employment duration; haematology; immune function; inflammation; oxidative stress