Effect of occupational exposure on hematological and biochemical parameters in workers at oil and gas companies

Petroleum refineries are largest chemical industries that are responsible for emission of several pollutants into the atmosphere. Benzene and its metabolites are regarded as the most hazardous compounds that are emitted by petroleum refineries. These contribute to toxic oxidants, which cause many serious health risks to petroleum refineries workers. This study was aimed to analyze the effects of chemical exposure on hematological and biochemical parameters among workers at Zawia oil refinery and Mellituh oil and gas refinery companies. A total of 200 workers participated in this study which consisting of two equal groups (each group: n = 100). The first group consists of petroleum refineries workers and the second group consists of non-oil work civil servants serving were recruited as exposed and control subjects, respectively. The results of blood picture, liver enzymes and kidney functions were compared between the groups. Mean white blood cells counts, platelet counts, and hematocrit count were significantly higher, while the mean red blood cells count was insignificantly changed in petroleum refineries workers. While the mean hemoglobin and corpuscular hemoglobin concentration levels were significantly lower, whereas the mean corpuscular volume and mean corpuscular hemoglobin levels were insignificantly changed in petrol refineries workers. Liver enzymes and renal functions were significantly higher in petrol refineries workers. The present findings indicate that occupational exposure to benzene causes significant alterations in hematological and biochemical parameters and workers are at high risk of developing blood, hepatic or renal related disorders. Protection and frequent medical attention should be given to petroleum refineries workers.

Morbidity and Mortality Patterns of Nigerian Petroleum Oil Refining and Distribution Industry

Aimed at unraveling the nature and extent of health effects and impacts of occupational exposures in the Nigerian petroleum refining and distribution industry; this study probed the morbidity and mortality partterns of this industry using oral interviews; questionnaires responses and secondary data from the industry. Results revealed that workers of this industry suffer from wide range of disease conditions involving virtually all body organs/systems; manifesting with varied symptoms that often brought them to the industry-based plant clinic. Questionnaire responses by the staff showed that Bad eye sight (16.3); sexually transmitted diseases (8.9); hypertension (8.8); musculo-skeletal health effects including chronic and intermittent back/low back pain (8.6); neck and shoulder pain (2.7) and chest pain (2.0)); sleeping/relaxing difficulty (8.0); recurring headache (6.4); reduced hearing/noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) (6.4); erectile dysfunction (weak erection)(5.3); breathing difficulty (3.9); Road transport accident (3.1); Peptic Ulcer disease (PUD)(3); Diabetes mellitus(2); prostate enlargement (0.5); Tonsil enlargement (0.1); pulmonary disease (0.1) and renal disease (0.1) were some of the symptoms/diseases or complaints by the staff. Documentations at the plant clinic however; revealed that malaria/functional disorders (33.3); respiratory disorders (13.5); Musculo-skeletal/ Rheumatic diseases (14.0); High blood pressure (10.9); gastrointestinal disorders (9.1) and Diabetes mellitus (4.1) were among the leading clinical conditions responsible for higher clinical attendance at the plant clinic. Genito-Urinary disorder (3.3); Eye/Visual Disorder (2.7); ear; nose and throat Problems (1.9); Occupational dermatitis (0.3) and Non-Occupational Skin Disorders (2.3) are among the reckonable entries that made the list of ailments suffered by the staff. Mortality statistics showed that a total of 79 deaths occurred within the period under review. Retroviral disease (21) topped the list of cause of death; followed by road/water transport accidents (16.5) and cardiac related diseases (13.9). Virtually all body organ/system-related pathologies including those of the lungs (5.1); endocrines (presence of diabetes mellitus (3.9); kidneys (3.8); liver (2.5); blood (leukaemia 2.5); and CNS (1.3) contributed to the cause of death. These results indicate that oil and gas work environment predisposes to sundry health effects that might hasten staff death. This calls for a comprehensive review of the contents of the occupational health services as to guarantee total health protection for the workers of this critical sector of the Nigerian economy

Patterns of Accidents and Injuries in a Nigerian Oil Refining and Distribution Industry

This study was conducted among the workers of Port Harcourt Refining Company (PHRC) and Pipelines and Petroleum Products Marketing Company (PPMC); both of which are subsidiaries of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) located in Elesa Eleme; near Port Harcourt; Nigeria; using data entries from the relevant units of the industries. A total of 594 (100) accident cases occurred between 2006 and 2008 across the various departments/units of the industries. Among these were industrial accidents (54.7); domestic accidents (32.7); road transport accidents (13.0). Fire/Explosion incidents 85(26.2) were among the prominent industrial accident events reported within the period under review. These accidents were responsible for 450 accident injuries of various descriptions; the majority of which occurred in the males than females

Acute Health Effects of a Crude Oil Spill in a Rural Community in Bayelsa State; Nigeria

In May 2000; there was a breach in the crude oil pipeline belonging to a major oil company in Etiama Nembe; in Bayelsa State; Nigeria. This study is to investigate if the residents in the affected community suffered an increase in self reported symptoms that might be attributable to exposure to the spilled crude oil. : A retrospective cohort study; with a comparison control group was carried out; using an interviewer - administered questionnaire and focus group discussions as the study tools. Exposure status was assigned on the basis of geographical location. The questionnaire was administered to male respondents in both the exposed and unexposed communities; while the focus group discussions were held only with adult women in the exposed community.:Atotal of 420 questionnaires were administered and retrieved from both study groups. There were no significant differences in the age; cigarette smoking or the history of chemical allergy between the exposed and the unexposed groups; though the respondents in the exposed communities were significantly better educated (p-value 0.005). There were significant differences in the period prevalence for diarrhea (OR

In vitro anti-leishmanial and anti-tumour activities of a pentacyclic triterpenoid compound isolated from the fruits of Dregea volubilis Benth Asclepiadaceae

Purpose: Dregea volubilis Benth, commonly known as Jukti in Bengal, is used in the treatment of boils and abscesses from ancient times. The purpose of this study is to elucidate the active compounds and as well as their anti-leishmanial and anti-tumour activities. Methods: Dried and crushed fruits of Dregea volubilis were extracted by petroleum ether (40 - 60°C); the best solvent system had first been verified by analytical Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC). The extract was subjected to TLC and column chromatography (CC) to isolate the pure compounds. Spectra data were obtained by Infra Red pectroscopy, Mass Spectroscopy and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance - Proton Magnetic Resonance (PMR), Carbon Magnetic Resonance (CMR) and Distortionless Enhancement by Polarization Transfer (DEPT) - for structure elucidation of the isolated compound(s). One of the compounds isolated was screened for anti-leishmanial activity against promastigotes of Leishmania donovani and anti-tumour activity on K562 leukemic cell line. Results: A pentacyclic triterpenoid compound was isolated and designated as taraxerone, and then characterized as d-friedoolean-14-en, 3 one together with ß-sitosterol and a long chain lipid fraction.. This compound showed in vitro anti-leishmanial activity against promastigotes of Leishmania donovani(strain AG 83) and anti-tumour activity on K562 leukemic cell line. Conclusion: A pentacyclic triterpenoid compound designated as taraxerone and characterized as Dfriedoolean-14-en, 3 one together was successfully isolated. The structure was determined on the basis of spectral analysis (IR, MASS, NMR (PMR, CMR and DEPT) and the compound demonstrated in vitro anti-leishmanial and anti-tumour activities

Food insecurity, malnutrition and crude oil spillage in a rural community in Bayelsa State; South-South Nigeria

BACKGROUND:Oil is the main stay of Nigeria's economy, but most residents in the oil producing communities still depend entirely on the environment for their sustenance; and so likely to have a problem of food security in the event of a deleterious impact on the environment. This study is to examine the effect of a major crude oil spillage on household food security and the nutritional status of under-five children in the affected communities. This oil spillage occurred in May 2000, in Etiama Nembe, a rural communityin Bayelsa State, south-south Nigeria.METHOD:The study was carried out six months after the spill, using cross-sectional, external control group study design, with a semi-structured questionnaire and anthropometry as the study tools. The study participants were chosen using a two-stage cluster sampling technique. The questionnaire assessing food insecurity was administered on an adult woman in each of the chosen households, while the anthropometric measurements were taken for every under-five year child in the household.RESULTS:A total of 592 questionnaires were administered and retrieved in both study communities, while anthropometric measurements of 956 under-five year children were taken There were no significant differences in the age and occupations of the respondents, and in the sizes of their households; although, the respondents in the exposed communities were significantly better educated (p-value < 0.001). There were significant differences in the study groups, in household food security (p-value < 0.000001), and in the prevalence of under-five children with underweight (p-value <0.0001), and wasting (p-value <0.01).CONCLUSIONS:Crude oil spillage can increase household food insecurity and childhood malnutrition in the affected communities. Efforts should always be made to provide food aid to affected communities, irrespective of the cause of the spillage

Haematoxic Effects Following Ingestion Of Nigerian Crude Oil And Crude Oil Polluted Shellfish By Rats

The haematological effects following ingestion of shellfish exposed to crude oil polluted water or the pollutant perse were investigated in albino Wistar rats. Feeding of four groups of rats for 28 days duration with two reference casein or shellfish protein control diets (Group A and B); and two test diets (Group C and D) supplemented at varying levels with shellfish which had been previously exposed to crude oil polluted water and the oral gavaging with crude oil at the rate of 3; 6 and 9 ml/kg body weight per day to three groups (groups II; III and IV respectively) of rats for 7 days duration resulted in changes in packed cell volume (PCV); red blood cell (RBC) and white blood cell (WBC) counts; and haemoglobin concentration (Hb) of rats. Group C and D respectively fed 10 and 20 polluted shellfish diets recorded significant (P 0.05) decreases in PCV and RBC counts while Hb concentration and WBC counts increased. Groups II; III and IV gavaged with varying doses of crude oil recorded significant (P 0.05 - 0.01) dose dependent decrease in PCV and RBC counts when compared to controls (group 1). Hb and WBC counts also increased for these groups but the increase was only significant for WBC counts (P 0.05) when compared with controls. The results suggest that the ingestion of shellfish exposed to crude oil polluted water or the polluted perse results in haematotoxicity

Ingestions accidentelles de produits toxiques chez l'enfant : a propos de 308 cas observes au centre medico-social d'Elf Congo; Pointe-Noire

A partir de 308 cas d'intoxications colliges en 6 ans chez l'enfant de 0 a 5 ans; les auteurs ont evalue a 6;3 pour cent la frequence hospitaliere de cette pathologie. Les toxiques les plus souvent en cause etaient le petrole : 213 cas (69;2 pour cent) et les medicaments : 63 cas (20;4 pour cent). L'indigestion avait lieu au domicile familial dans 268 cas (87 pour cent) et le delai de prise en charge therapeutique etait compris entre 2 et 6 heures dans 55;8 pour cent. Les auteurs insistent sur la prevention des intoxications par l'education pour la sante