The health concerns for petroleum workers warranted this study in asymptomatic exposed (n=64) and control (n=64) ) in the exposed group was higher (p<0.05) than that in the control group (11.59±2.10 and 7.53±1.71 μmol LG 1 ) by 97.50 and 134.40%, respectively whereas the computed TB:CB ratio (1.30±1.62) was lower (p<0.05) than that in the control group (1.54±2.33) by 15.58%. Aside the AST:ALT ratio (1.39±1.26) that was lower (p<0.05) than that in the control (2.22±1.84) by 37.39%, the other observations in the exposed group for computed serum ALT:AST ratio (0.72±2.42), ALT:ALP ratio (0.83±2.33) and CB:TB ratio (0.77±2.72) were higher (p<0.05) than that in the control (0.45±3.45, 0.73±2.04 and 0.65±3.11) by 60.00, 13.70 and 18.46%, respectively. The study suggests dysfunctional liver and other organs, with the attendant health implications in the petroleum depot workers, highlighting the need for health caution and protection.
The health concerns about working in a petroleum depot without wearing a Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) warranted this study. The anthropometric, lipid profile and blood pressure status were assessed by standard methods in asymptomatic adult male depot workers (n = 64) and male university students (n = 64), in Calabar metropolis, Nigeria. The concentration (mmol LG 1 ) of total cholesterol (5.21±0.90), triacylglycerol (1.23±0.20) and very low density lipoprotein (0.56±0.19) respectively in the serum of the depot workers were significantly (p<0.05) higher than in the control (5.09±0.04, 1.15±0.04 and 0.52±0.09). The body weight (73.75±0.11 kg), height (1.72±0.1 m) and body mass index, BMI, (24.58±0.73 kg mG 2 ) of the depot workers were higher (p>0.05) than that of the control. The Blood Pressure (BP) of the exposed group (120/90±1.38 mmHg) and the control (120/80±1.14 mmHg) differed only in the Diastolic Blood Pressure (DBP) by 10 mmHg and in the calculated systolic to diastolic blood pressure ratio (SBP:DBP) by 0.17. The study suggested cardiovascular risks and impaired lipid metabolism in the petroleum depot workers. The health implications of this study warrant a follow up perhaps, in a larger population and sample size. The study underscored the need for the petroleum depot workers to wear personal protective equipment and to assess their health status on a regular basis.
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