SOME HAEMATOLOGICAL INDICES AMONG PETROL STATION ATTENDANTS OCCUPATIONALLY EXPOSED TO PREMIUM MOTOR SPIRIT IN SOKOTO, NORTH WESTERN, NIGERIA

Objectives: Occupational exposures to petroleum products is associated with a significant health challenge and long-term complications. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of occupational exposure to unleaded Premium Motor Spirit on some haematological indices of Petrol Station Attendants.

Methods: We investigated the toxic effect of occupational exposure to unleaded Premium Motor Spirit on some haematological parameters; Packed Cell Volume, Haemoglobin, White Cell Count, Mean Cell Volume, Mean Cell Haemoglobin and Mean Cell Haemoglobin Concentration of 100 Petrol Station Attendants with mean age and mean years of exposure of 39.48±8.24 years and 6.2±3.6 years respectively. Fifty age and gender- matched non -exposed individuals were monitored as controls.

Results: We observed that the haemoglobin, Packed Cell Volume, Red Blood Cell, White Blood Cell Count, Mean Cell Haemoglobin and Mean Cell Haemoglobin Concentration was significantly lower among exposed subjects compared to non-exposed controls (p ≤ 0.05). Subjects who were exposed to Premium Motor Spirit for longer than two years had significantly (p < 0.001) lower haemoglobin, Packed Cell Volume, Red Blood Cell, White Blood Cell Count, Mean Cell Haemoglobin and Mean Cell Haemoglobin Concentration (10.83±0.16, 33.54±0.54, 3.87±0.06, 4.49±0.18 and 32.20±0.03) compared to those exposed for < 2 years (11.13±0.05, 35.20±0.27, 4.09±0.06 and 4.40±0.13) and unexposed controls (13.25±0.01, 43.14±0.32, 4.61±0.01, 5.62±0.01 and 30.71±0.01) respectively. The prevalence of anaemia (haemoglobin <13.5 g/dl) was significantly higher among subjects exposed to PMS for ≥ 2 years (72%) compared to those exposed for < 2 years (24%) and unexposed controls (0%) (p=0.001). We observed a significant positive correlation between length of exposure and anaemia and leucopenia (r=0.68 and r=0.45 respectively, p=0.01).

Conclusion: This study shows that occupational exposure to PMS has a negative effect on some haematological parameters and re-emphasize the need for legislation mandating employers of staff who are occupational exposed to petroleum products to provide appropriate personal protective equipment for their staff as well as ensure that staff are compliant in the use of these equipment. There is need for education on the effect of premium motor spirit on the health of exposure staff. Nigeria can possibly benefit from evidenced –based best practice from industrialized nations of using self-dispensing pump as preventive measure. There is need to ensure that the health and well-being of exposed workers are monitored regularly.