Methaemoglobin Level and Packed Cell Volume in Apparently Healthy Wood- Furniture Workers Within Port Harcourt Metropolis, Rivers State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study evaluated the methaemoglobin level and packed cell volume (PCV) of wood- furniture workers in Port Harcourt Metropolis. A total of one hundred (100) subjects all male were recruited, comprising of fifty-one (51) wood-furniture workers and forty-nine (49)
apparently healthy controls. Blood samples from each participant was collected using a standard venipuncture technique and dispensed into a container, containing 1.2mg/ml of Potassium Ethylene Diamine Tetra Acetic Acid (K 3 EDTA) and transported to the
Haematology Laboratory, Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Rivers State University, Nkpolu-Oroworukwo, Port Harcourt, Nigeria for analysis, between June and August, 2018. Methaemoglobin level in percentage was determined using spectrophotometric
method while PCV was determined using microhaematocrit method. All standard operating procedures were duly followed. The data collated revealed that methaemoglobin level was significantly increased in wood-furniture workers (9 ± 6 %) compared to the control subjects (1.9 ± 0.62 %) (p=0.0001). There was also a significant increase in the packed cell volume level between test subjects (47 ± 2.2%) compared to the control (40 ± 2.6%) (p=0.0001). Wood-furniture workers based on duration of exposure (years) were divided into three groups as 1-5 years (16 subjects), 5-10 years (14 subjects) and 10-15 years (21 subjects). The methaemoglobin level was significantly higher in wood furniture workers with longer period of exposure (4.6 ± 1.1%), (7.1 ± 1.2%) and (14 ± 7%) for those exposed for 1-5 years, 5-10 years and 10-15 years respectively (p=0.0001). Significant difference in packed cell volume level was also observed in test subjects on same duration of exposure as (42 ± 1.7%), (40 ± 1.7 %), and (38 ± 2.7 %) in the same order when compared with control subjects (p=0.0001).

In conclusion, exposure to chemicals associated with wood-furniture works seems to significantly affect the methaemoglobin level and packed cell volume of exposed workers.