DOI: 10.36347/sjams.2015.v03i03.074

Pages: 1400-1403

Constant exposure to petroleum products has become a major cause of public health concern. This study seeks to evaluate the consequences of exposure to premium motor spirit (PMS) fumes on some haematological parameters of Automobile Mechanics and Petrol Station Attendants, using apparently healthy non exposed population as control, in Ekpoma, Edo state, Nigeria. A total of 150 subjects were recruited for this study. Fifty, were petrol station attendant (PSA), 50 automobile mechanics (AM) and 50 apparently healthy individuals. Five millilitres of venous blood was collected from the subjects, for haemoglobin concentration (Hb), packed cell volume (PCV), Total White Blood Cell and differential white cell counts. Among which, the Hb level was significantly lower amongst the PSA compared to the AM whose Hb level was significantly reduced compared with the apparently healthy individuals (p< 0.05). The PCV of PSA and AM were significantly lower than that of the apparently healthy individuals (p< 0.001). The total WBC, Neutrophils and lymphocytes counts were significantly higher than those of the apparently healthy individuals. The monocytes and Eosinophils had no significant difference between those exposed to premium motor spirit and the apparently healthy individuals. This study suggested increased exposure to petrol fumes among automobile mechanics, petrol station attendant, is highly toxic and are potential damaging agents to the haematopoietic stem cell and could cause anaemia.