Studies on some Biochemical Parameters among Charcoal (Physiculus nematopus) Traders in Swali Market Yenagoa Bayelsa State

Abstract

The aim of this study was to assess some biochemical parameters among charcoal (Physiculus nematopus) traders in Swali market Yenagoa Bayelsa State, Nigeria. Five milliliter of blood specimens was collected from each of the fifteen charcoal (Physiculus nematopus) traders with < 5 years working experience (experimental group one), fifteen charcoal (Physiculus nematopus) traders with ≥5 years working experience (experimental group two) and fifteen non charcoal traders (control group) into lithium heparin anti-coagulated bottles respectively. Thereafter alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), urea, creatinine and C-reactive protein (CRP) were measured quantitatively. The results of charcoal traders in experimental group one showed no statistically significant differences (p>0.05) in all the measured biochemical parameters ALT (7.26U/I), AST (5.61U/I), CRP (2.48mg/L), urea (8.68mmol/L), creatinine (82.14µmol/L) as compared to that of the control group (7.22U/I), (5.58U/I), (2.47mg/L), (8.65mmo/L), (82.10µmol/L) respectively while that of experimental group two showed statistically significant differences (p<0.05) in alanine aminotransferase (20.40U/I), aspartate aminotransferase (16.20U/I) and C-reactive protein (22.42mg/L) as compared to that of the control group (7.22U/I), (5.58U/I), (2.47mg/L) respectively. However, urea (8.68mmol/L) and creatinine (82.25µmol/L) showed no statistically significant differences (p>0.05) as compared to that of the control group (8.65mmol/L), (82.10µmol/L) respectively. In conclusion alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase and C-reactive protein may be altered in charcoal (Physiculus nematopus) traders exposed to charcoal dust for ≥ 5 years. It is therefore recommended that charcoal traders in this category should embark on hepato-inflammatory biochemical parameters investigation intermittently in any registered and licensed Medical Laboratory facility so as to monitor the concentrations of these parameters.