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2011-Sustainable Industrial Processing Summit
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| Editors: | Florian K |
| Publisher: | Flogen Star OUTREACH |
| Publication Year: | 2012 |
| Pages: | 646 pages |
| ISBN: | 978-0-9879917-4-4 |
| ISSN: | 2291-1227 (Metals and Materials Processing in a Clean Environment Series) |
Blood Pressure, Routine Biochemical And Haematological Profiles In Waste Handlers In A Nigerian Tertiary Hospital.
OMOLARA POPOOLA1; MARIA EBESUNUN2; OYEDOTUN OYEDELE3;1UNIVERSITY COLLEGE HOSPITAL, IBADAN, Nigeria; 2OGUN STATE UNIVERSITY, SAGAMU, Nigeria; 3UCH, IBADAN, Nigeria;
Type of Paper: Regular
Id Paper: 491
Topic: 7
Abstract:
Background: Medical waste handlers are from time to time exposed to hazardous materials. This study aimed to investigate the adverse effects of occupational exposure on liver and kidney function tests as well as on blood pressure and haematological profile in waste handlers in a Nigerian tertiary hospital.Subjects and Methods: All fourteen men working as waste handlers with University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria were recruited for the study. Ten men without history of hospital waste handling nor any other occupational exposure to toxicants served as controls. Renal (electrolytes, urea, creatinine, calcium, phosphate, uric acid) and liver (aspartate transaminase, alkaline phosphatase, alaline transaminase, albumin, and total protein) function tests, blood pressure as well as haematological profile of these subjects were assessed using standard procedures. Data generated were assessed using SPSS 16.0.Results: Liver Function Tests; Albumin concentration is lower in waste handlers (4.61± 0.13 vs 5.36 ± 0.05, p<0.001) however no significant difference exists in the concentrations of aspartate transaminase, alkaline phosphatase, alaline transaminase, total protein. Renal Function Tests: Urea is significantly higher (30.29 ± 1.72 vs. 21.20 ± 2.35, p <0.05) while bicarbonate is lower in waste handlers (22.20 ± 0.20 vs. 21.50 ± 0.25, p <0.05) but no difference is observed in the levels of the other electrolytes, creatinine, calcium, phosphate, uric acid between the two groups. Blood Pressure; A significant difference is observed in the systolic blood pressure (127.14 ± 2.66 vs 112.00 ± 2.00, p<0.001) but not in the diastolic blood pressure of the subjects. Haematological profile; The ratio of neutrophil to lymphocyte is altered in waste handlers (35.46: 47.39) as compared to that of apparently healthy subjects (50.34: 39.26). Furthermore, packed cell volume, PCV (36.48 ± 1.37 vs. 41.48 ± 1.55) and red blood cell, RBC, count (4.35 ± 0.21 vs. 4.90 ± 0.15) are lower in waste handlers. However no significant difference exists in the total white blood cell (WBC) count, platelet (PLT) count, haemoglobin (HB) concentration, mean cell volume (MCV), mean cell haemoglobin (MCH), mean cell haemoglobin concentration (MCHC), neutrophil, lymphocyte, and eosinophil, basophil, and monocyte proportions in the two groups.Conclusion: Altered albumin, urea, bicarbonate, neutrophil- lymphocyte ratio, RBC count, PCV and high blood pressure are the abnormalities found in the profiles of waste handlers in this study. In this regard waste handlers in this environment need to routinely check their biochemical profile, haematological profile and blood pressure from time to time.