Influence of Alcohol Intake on Heavy Metal Accumulation in Artisans from Three Locations in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria

Abstract

Aim: The present study assesses the levels of some heavy metals in artisans in Rivers State, Nigeria Study Design: This is a Cross-sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: Automobile workshops, welding workshops, and painting workshops, located in Mile 3 mechanic garage, Elekahia and Rumuagholu., between June 2023 and January 2024. Methodology: A total of 100 subjects were recruited for this study based on specific inclusion and exclusion criteria’s. The exposed group was made up of three different types of artisans (mechanics, welders, and painters) with a total of 75 exposed individuals, each group comprised of 25 artisans each, while the non-exposed (control) group were 25 individuals who were mainly students and office workers. All the participants for the study were asked to fast for 8 hours after which 10 ml of venous blood samples were collected into plain sample bottles. Separate serum samples were used to assay nickel, lead, mercury, arsenic, cadmium, and chromium. Statistical analysis was performed using GraphPad prism version 9.0. and p-values less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant. Results: The results of the heavy metals showed significantly (P<0.05) high levels of arsenic in the mechanics, significantly (P<0.05) high levels of lead and chromium in the welders, and significantly (P<0.05) high levels of arsenic, lead, and cadmium in painters when compared to the control group. The artisans that consumed moderate and heavy amounts of alcohol had significantly higher levels of arsenic, mercury and chromium when compared to the non-consumers. Conclusion: Automobile mechanics had significant higher levels of arsenic, the welders were exposed to lead, and chromium, while the painters had significant higher levels of arsenic and lead.