Biochemical and haematological profile in nigerian cement factory workers

Cement dust exposures has been reported to result in various occupational health problems and long term complications. However, effects of cement dust exposures on biochemical, oxidative stress indicators and Haematological profiles in Nigerians cement factory workers are scarce, therefore the present study is aimed at determining the effects of cement dust exposure on uric acid, creatinine, total protein, albumin, globulin, copper and selenium levels and Haematological profile in forty-five cement factory workers and thirty controls office workers. Uric acid, creatinine, albumin and total protein were determined using Hitachi 902 auto analyser, total globulin was computed by subtracting albumin level from total protein concentration while haematological parameters were determined using Sysmex. Uric acid, copper and creatinine levels were significantly higher in cement factory workers compared with controls (p<0.05). Also, haemoglobulin, haematocrite concentration, Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV), Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin Concentration (MCHC), Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin (MCH), lymphocytes and eosinophils are significantly higher in exposed group compared with controls while neutrophils were significantly lower in cement factory workers. Significantly higher creatinine suggests nephrotoxic effects while uric acid probably in part up regulated to combat oxidative stress. Uric acid was also significantly positively correlated with Body Mass Index (BMI) (r = 0.38, p<0.05), probably to match the body cement dust burdens. Higher haematological profile probably support the report that cement mill workers are exposed to metals that enhance haematopoietic system while the insignificant difference of total protein, albumin suggest that cement dust does not have effects on the synthetic functions of liver. Other variables did not differ significantly.