Effect of Exposure to Tyre Smoke on Hacmoglobin Serum Calcium and Albumin of Selected Abattoir Workers in Trans – Amadi Slaughter of Port Harcourt

This investigation was conducted to study the effect of exposure to tyre smoke on serum calcium and albumin of selected abattoir workers in Oginigba town of Obio area of Port Harcourt, Rivers State. A total number of 50 participants were selected for the study (35 experimental group and 15 controls). Blood samples were collected by venipuncture and analyzed in the laboratory for serum calcium and albumin using the colorimetric and bromo cresol-green method respectively. Compared to 3% of the control population, 49% of the experimental population had a serum calcium level below the standard reference of 2.20-2.55 mmol/l. Results from the test on serum albumin showed that 23% of the experimental population had level above the standard references of 3.5-50 g/dl whereas the control population had values within the reference range. The experimental population was grouped into five study groups: 1-3, 4-6, 7-9, 10-15, and above 15 years of service (exposure years) at the abattoir. Serum calcium levels in mmol/l were 2.31, 2.15, 2.20, 2.13, 2.06, 2.16, and serum albumin level in g/dl were 4.63, 4.62, 4.70, 4.79, 4.83, 4.99 for control, groups 1-3, 4-6, 7-9, 10-15 and above 15 years respectively compared with the control, all showed significant increase in the serum albumin levels. The level of significance in agreement with the different standard reference ranges, serum calcium was observed to significantly vary from the control from the last level of exposure (1-3 years) while serum albumin differed significantly from the control, from 7years of exposure for non-smokers and 4years of exposure amongst smokers. The data was group into two study based on genotype as AA and AS. It was observed that participants with genotype AS were most susceptible to the effect of smoke inhalation on lowering serum calcium levels. The result of this research showed that the abattoir workers (roasters) are prone to developing hypocalcaemia and hyperalbuminaemia, and therefore require periodic medical attention.