Assessment of Lipid and Atherogenic Profile of Scavengers at Refuse Dumpsites in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria

Abstract

Aim: Scavengers are individuals who gather waste and recyclable materials from refuse dumpsites, and thus are exposed to varieties of deleterious substances that have the potential to modulate and affect human health. This study was designed to assess the lipid and atherogenic profile of scavengers utilising refuse dumpsites in Port Harcourt, Nigeria.  Methodology: Fifty (50) exposed (scavengers) aged 31.32±9.49 years and 50 non-exposed (control) aged 32.92 ±10.63 years (age-matched) male subjects were sampled. The blood pressure was measured and body mass index calculated from the height and weight of the subjects. Total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein, low density lipoprotein and triglycerides levels of the subjects were determined from fasting serum samples using standard spectrophotometric methods. Atheogenic ratios were also computed using established formulae. The data was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 21 and expressed as mean and standard deviations. Variations between parameters was considered significant at p<0.05. Results: The result obtained revealed that the mean ± SD of total cholesterol, triglycerides and low density lipoprotein showed no significant difference (p > 0.05) while the level of high density lipoprotein showed significant difference (p < 0.05) between exposed (scavengers) and non-exposed (control) individuals. Body mass index and blood pressure did not also vary significantly (p>0.05) between the two group of subjects. Conclusion: Cardiovascular disease risk exist among the study subjects as revealed by atherogenic profiling of the subjects indicating the need for life style changes and socio economic intervention among the subjects.