Impact of Hours of Exposure to Cement on Haemostatic Parameters among Cement Workers

Abstract

Inhaling cement dust has been linked to changes in the health integrity of vulnerable groups. This study was focused at evaluating the impact of hourly exposure to cement dust on haemostatic markers in cement workers in Port Harcourt. One hundred subjected working at cement depot and sites were recruited for the study and were divided into three study groups based on hours of exposure to cement dust during work. Group 1 was 27 subjects with 1-5hourly exposure, Group 2 was 62 subjects with 6-10hourly exposure and the last group was Group 3 containing 11 subjects with over 10hours of exposure. Subjects were selected by convenient sampling technique. Blood samples were drawn using venipuncture method and samples were collected into trisodium citrate and plain bottles for PT, APTT, fibrinogen and Von Willebrand factor and D-dimer respectively. PT and APTT were assayed using manual methods but other studied parameters were assayed using ELISA. ANOVA result showed that the mean values of PT level among the classes were 15.58 ±2.11; 16.29 ±4.07 and 16.17 ±2.07 and were not significantly different (p=0.6775). Mean values for APTT level among the classes were 35.09 ±10.06; 32.62 ±9.61 and 33.00 ±12.74 but not significantly different (p=0.5695). VWF level among the classes were 69.62 ±36.89; 64.23 ±31.32 and 71.92 ±16.17 but not significantly different (p=0.6396). D-Dimer level among the classes were 496.60 ±490.00; 457.60 ±409.80 and 519.20 ±357.70 but statistically non-significant (p=0.8661). Fibrinogen level among the classes were 4.74 ±4.63; 5.33 ±4.67 and 6.53 ±6.09 but statistically not significant (p=0.6604). There was no significant difference in haemostatic markers levels among the groups (P-value>0.05). This study has shown that hourly exposure to cement dust does not have any key effect on haemostatic markers of cement workers in Port Harcourt.