Haematological Parameters of Petrol Attendants in Ekpoma, Edo State, Nigeria

Background: The volatile nature of petrol products makes them readily available in the atmosphere any time it is dispensed, especially at petrol filling stations and depots. Many of the harmful effects seen after exposure to gasoline are due to the individual chemicals in the gasoline mixture, such as benzene, lead and oxygenates. Aims: Occupational diseases in gasoline filling workers have been recognized for many years and affect workers in different ways; such diseases are still problems in all parts of the world. The overall aim of this study is to determine the haematological parameters of petrol attendants in Ekpoma, Edo State, Nigeria. Methodology: A total of fifty (50) petrol attendants aged 18-60 years and of both sexes were recruited for this study while fifty (50) apparently healthy subjects served as control. The haematological parameters were determined using Sysmex KX-21N Haematology auto-analyzer. Results: The result obtained showed that the NEUT# levels of petrol attendants were significantly higher (p<0.05) in petrol attendants when compared with the control, whereas the remaining haematological parameters did not show any difference (p>0.05). With respect to gender, RBC, HGB, Haematocrit, MCV, MCH and MXD % levels were significantly higher (p<0.05) in male subjects in comparison to the female subjects. From the perspective of age, there was no statistical significant difference (p>0.05) in the haematological parameters among the different age ranges studied. With respect to the duration of exposure, HGB, Haematocrit, MCV and MCH levels were significantly higher (p<0.05) in test subjects who have been exposed for a period of 5-8 years when compared with 1-4 years and <1years while RDW-SD levels were significantly higher (p<0.05) in subjects that have been exposed for a period of 1-4 years when compared with <1years and 5-8 years. Conclusion: In conclusion, this study has shown that prolonged exposure to gasoline vapour led to alterations in some red blood cell parameters of the haematogram of the subjects studied.