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Comparison of Mean ± SD values of ESR, Total Protein and BMI based on duration of work at the quarry site
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Introduction: Occupational hazards associated with stone crushing and inhalation of stone dust is well documented. Quarrying/stone crushing is increasingly becoming the main stay of Ebonyi state economy and major source of internally generated revenue yet there is little or no government policy towards safety of workers and environment. Aim: This s...
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Context 1
... was no significant difference based on gender when the three parameters were compared among the quarry workers ( Table 2).The ESR differed significantly in all the age brackets when compared with controls (Table 3). The effect of duration of quarrying activity on ESR, total protein and BMI respectively were not significant though those who had worked for 2-3 years had the least values in ESR, serum protein and BMI (Table 4). ...Citations
... Stone quarry activities in Akure involved mainly men as opposed to both sexes in Abakaliki, South-Eastern Nigeria. [24] Workers in stone quarrying sites in Akure share a common denominator of being lowly educated, and who had no trade skills with a mean age of 39.35 ± .99 years. The analysis of blood samples from the workers demonstrated that some WBCs populations were altered. ...
... The total WBCs were elevated in the quarry workers but, this was not at a significant level as other studies have indicated. [21,24] Neutrophils counts increased significantly (P < .05), and neutrophils being a subset of WBCs, a rise in their numbers is an inference of a challenge to immune status of the study subjects as other studies have indicated. ...
... and neutrophils being a subset of WBCs, a rise in their numbers is an inference of a challenge to immune status of the study subjects as other studies have indicated. [20,21,24] This may also suggest that elevated neutrophils numbers point to a functional challenge of the host defense mechanism as may be exemplified by their role in cancer cells and during the use of cytotoxic agents that results in neutropenia and the resultant high fatality. [25,26] Lymphocytes counts in the study subjects were heightened significantly (P < .05) in comparison to the control group. ...
Stone quarry activities in Nigeria are mostly unregulated such that the workers in these quarries are continuously exposed to the inhalation of silica dust. It has been observed that silica dust particles negatively impact the health of stone quarry workers which usually manifest as respiratory difficulties, asthma-like illnesses and other adventitious events of the lungs. The study was designed to evaluate the probable immunological impact of silica dust inhalation from stone crushing by workers. Blood samples were collected from consenting workers and analyzed for total white blood cells and their subsets. Absolute CD4 cells numbers were also determined. The results indicated that neutrophils and eosinophils numbers increased significantly (P < .05) and CD4 counts declined significantly (P < .001). Alteration in these proportions is a pointer to the injurious impact of silica dust on the immune system of these workers. The findings in this study should spur actions in the education of these workers on the need for the use of proper personal protection equipment and the establishment of a scheme to periodically carry out a health assessment check to identity those at most risk of developing chronic illnesses. Abbreviation: WBCs = white blood cells.
... rice grain from the paddy In processing, a substantial amount of products such as husk dust, microbial particles, mineralogical materials (dust, fumes, ashes or other industrial waste) may be released into the environment and constitute toxic elements that may cause health risk to workers. Risks of occupational exposures to dust and effects on haematological parameters have been observed in our previous studies [2,3]. ...
... Significant variations were observed in PCV, ESR and differential leucocyte counts. This is in agreement with previous studies in dust exposed workers [2,3,5,17]. Significant relationships were equally observed between the ESR with neutrophil and lymphocyte when compared with control. ...
Background: Rice is currently the major stable food for most Nigerians and rice farming and local processing has become popular with the recent ban on importation. Health hazards associated with occupational exposure to rice husk dust have been documented even among developed countries with advanced technology in rice processing. Aim: We assessed possible effect of longtime exposure to husk dust on some haematological parameters. Methods: A cross-sectional, descriptive and analytical study was conducted at Abakaliki Rice Mill, Ebonyi State –Nigeria on 80 workers (male36, female 44) between 18-61years and 56 age/sex-matched manual workers not exposed to husk dust. The haematological parametes; PCV, ESR, total and differential leucocyte counts were estimated using standard methods. Results: Majority of the workers were female. There were significant differences in PCV, ESR and differential leucocyte counts (P>0.05) between workers exposed to rice husk dust and control. The total WBC count did not show any significant difference when compared. However significant increases were observed in the relative WBC differentials in lymphocytes, monocyte and eosinophil counts and significant decrease in differential neutrophil count. Significant relationships were observed between ESR/neutrophil, ESR/lymphocyte and neutrophil/lymphocytes in both exposed workers and control. Conclusion: Exposure to rice husk dust is significantly associated with variations in haematological parameters and invariably health status. Therefore improved occupational health safety through the use of personal protective equipment and regular health check is advocated.
