Abstract:

This investigation was conducted to study the effect of exposure to tyre smoke on serum calcium (Ca) and albumin (Alb) of selected abattoir workers in Oginigba area of Obio Akpor L.G.A., Rivers State. A total of 50 participants were recruited for the study (35 test and 15 control). The test population was divided into five study groups 1-3, 4-6, 7-9, 10-15 and above 15 years of service (exposure years) at the abattoir. Blood samples were collected by veinupuncture and analyzed for serum calcium and albumin using the colorimetric and bromocresol-green method respectively. Compared to 3% of the control population, 49% of the test population had a serum calcium level below the standard reference of 2.20-2.55mmol/l. Results of serum albumin showed that 23% of the test population had levels above the standard reference of 3.5-5.0g/dl whereas the control population had values within the reference range. When the respective test groups were compared with the control, groups 1-3, 7-9 and 10-15 showed significant reduction in serum calcium level while groups 7-9 and 10-15 showed significant increase in the serum albumin level. Serum calcium was observed to significantly differ from the control at the least level of exposure (1-3 years) while serum albumin differed significantly from the control at 7 years of exposure for non-smokers and 4 years of exposure amongst smokers. The data was also grouped into two study groups based on genotypes AA and AS. It was observed that participants with genotype AS were more susceptible to the effect of the smoke inhalation and recorded low serum calcium level. The result of this research has demonstrated that abattoir workers (roasters) are prone to developing hypocalcaemia and hyperalbuminaemia, and as such require periodic medical attention, care and better animal processing (dehairing) practice/method.

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