CHRONIC EXPOSURE TO BLACK SOOT IS DANGEROUS TO HEALTH: A BIOCHEMICAL AND HAEMATOLOGICAL STUDY AMONG RESIDENTS OF TOMBIA AND ITS ENVIRONS IN BAYELSA STATE, NIGERIA
Keywords:
Black soot, chronic exposure, dangerous, biochemical parameters, haematological parameters, Bayelsa State, NigeriaAbstract
Abstract: Black soot is a contaminant in the air consisting of black carbon particles that occurs during partial combustion of hydrocarbons. This study was aimed on chronic exposure to black soot is dangerous to health: A biochemical and haematological study among residents of Tombia and its environs in Bayelsa State, Nigeria. Ten millilitres of blood samples were withdrawn via venipuncture from 38 participants exposed to black soot for < 3 years (experimental group 1), another 38 participants exposed to black soot for 3-10 years (experimental group 2) and 38 participants not exposed to black soot (control group). Five milliliter each of the blood sample was dispensed into different lithium heparin anti-coagulated bottles for the measurement of the following biochemical parameters: lead (atomic absorption spectrophotometry method), cadmium (atomic absorption spectrophotometry method), glutathione peroxidase (ultra-violet method), malondialdehyde (thiobarbituric acid method), C-reactive protein (latex turbidimetry method) and interleukin-6 (elascience method) while each of the remaining 5ml was dispensed into different ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid anti-coagulated bottles for the measurement of haematological parameters such as packed cell volume (microhaematocrit method), haemoglobin (cyanmethaemoglobin method), total white blood cell count (automated method) and erythrocytes sedimentation rate (westergren method) using SPSS version 23.0 as statistical package. The biochemical findings as indicated in experimental group 1 participants revealed no significant alterations (p>0.05) in the mean value of lead, cadmium, glutathione peroxidase and malondialdehyde while significant elevations were revealed in C-reactive protein (5.82 ± 0.47) mg/L (p=0.03) and interleukin-6 (7.88 ± 0.58) pg/ml (p=0.03) as compared to C-reactive protein (2.40 ± 0.38) mg/L and interleukin-6 (4.23 ± 0.27) pg/ml in the control group. However, in experimental group 2, lead (0.07 ± 0.02) ×10-2ppm (p=0.02), cadmium (0.09 ± 0.03) ×10-2ppm (p=0.02), C-reactive protein (8.00 ± 0.86) mg/L (p=0.01) and interleukin-6 (12.25 ± 0.67) pg/ml (p=0.01) showed significant elevations as compared to the control group, while other parameters were not significantly altered (p>0.05). The haematological findings in experimental group 1 participants revealed significant decrease in the mean values of packed cell volume (35.20 ± 0.06)%, (p=0.03) and haemoglobin (11.40 ± 0.06)g/dl (p=0.03) compared to the control group (43.25 ± 0.17) % and (14.12 ± 0.10)g/dl respectively while significant elevations were found in total white blood cell count (12, 600 ± 1.87) cmm (p=0.02) and erythrocytes sedimentation rate (6.00 ± 0.05) mm/Hour (p=0.02) compared to the control group (8,500 ± 1.42)cmm and (1.00 ± 0.03)mm/Hour respectively. In experimental group 2 there was significant decrease in the mean values of packed cell volume (31.20 ± 0.08) %, (p=0.01) and haemoglobin (10.00 ± 0.06)g/dl (p=0.01) compared to the control group (43.25 ± 0.17) % and (14.12 ± 0.10)g/dl respectively while significant elevations were found in total white blood cell count (14, 320 ± 1.92) cmm (p=0.01) and erythrocytes sedimentation rate (9.00 ± 0.07) mm/Hour (p=0.01) compared to the control group (8,500 ± 1.42)cmm and (1.00 ± 0.03)mm/Hour respectively. It is concluded from this study that participants exposed to black soot for 3-10 years duration are at risk of lead and cadmium toxicity, iron deficiency anaemia, infection and inflammatory disorder, thus are recommended to embark on biochemical and haematological routine check-ups so as to curb further health complications.
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