Author(s)

Grace Umahi-Ottah¹, Ronke Uzuajemeh Ireneh², Babatunde Ishola Gabriel Adejumo^3*, Fidelis Ohiremen Oyakhire³, Olufunke Victoria Aiyegbusi⁴, Uchechukwu Dimkpa⁵, Oladimeji Nasiru Abdulrahman⁶, Emmanuel Ojeideleko Akhaumere⁷, Feyisayo Olayemi Aiyesoro⁸

¹Department of Physiology, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, Nigeria.
²Department of Medical Laboratory Science, University of Benin, Benin, Nigeria.
³Department of Medical Laboratory Science, College of Health Sciences, Joseph Ayo Babalola University, Ikeji Arakeji, Nigeria.
⁴Department of Nursing Science, College of Health Sciences, Joseph Ayo Babalola University, Ikeji Arakeji, Nigeria.
⁵Department of Physiology, Nnewi Campus, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Nigeria.
⁶Department of Medical Laboratory Science, College of Health Technology, Offa, Nigeria.
⁷Department of Chemical Pathology, National Hospital, Abuja, Nigeria.
⁸Department of Medical Laboratory Science, College of Health Technology, Akure, Nigeria.

Objectives: Carbon monoxide (CO) is an odourless and highly toxic gas produced from incomplete combustion of fuel. This gas has capacity to bind with haemoglobin to compete for oxygen uptake when inhaled, thereby altering the blood physiology. Aim: The aim of this study is to determine the effect of carbon monoxide on haematology and haemostasis parameters among the exposed workers at gasoline generators service centre in Benin City. Methodology: Eighty-eight participants (workers n = 44 and; controls n = 44) took part in this study. Carbon monoxide used for this study was sourced from the smoke being emitted by gasoline generators during repairs. The participants’ haematological parameters were analysed using haematology autoanalyzer (Sysmex Poch 100i model, Germany), while PT and PTTK were assayed using standard methods. Results: The mean values of red blood cells (RBC), white blood cells (WBC), platelets (PLT), haemoglobin concentration (Hb), hematocrit (HCT), mean cell volume (MCV), mean cell haemoglobin (MCH), mean cell hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) and red cell distribution width coefficient variation (RDW-CV) observed in both the workers at generator service center and their controls fell within normal ranges, but the mean red cell distribution width standard deviation (RDW-SD) of workers at generator service center fell below normal as against the normal value for controls. There were no significant differences in serum concentrations of lymphocytes (p = 0.134), and granulocytes (p = 0.584). In contrast, significantly (p < 0.001) higher mean monocyte level was observed in the workers at the generator service center compared with the controls. Also, there was significantly lower mean platelet volume (MPV) (p = 0.002), platelet distribution width (PDW) (p = 0.001), platelet large cell ratio (PLCR) (p = 0.013) and higher plateletcrit (PCT) (p = 0.001) in the workers at the generator service center compared with the control group. PT and PTT values fell within normal range among the controls, while the values are higher among the exposed workers at the centres. Conclusion: In this study, carbon monoxide emitted during repairs has no deleterious effects on haematological and haemostasis parameters of the exposed workers at generator service centre in Benin City. However, PT and PTT exceeded normal value in the workers at the generator service centre compared to the controls. More work needs to be done especially on longer duration of exposure and at various concentrations of carbon monoxide exposure.

Generator Smoke, Full Blood Count, Haematological, Haemostasis

Umahi-Ottah, G. , Ireneh, R. , Adejumo, B. , Oyakhire, F. , Aiyegbusi, O. , Dimkpa, U. , Abdulrahman, O. , Akhaumere, E. and Aiyesoro, F. (2022) Effects of Carbon Monoxide on Haematological and Haemostatic Parameters among the Exposed Workers at Generator Servicing Centres in Benin City. Health, 14, 737-750. doi: 10.4236/health.2022.147053.