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अमूर्त

Assessment of Some Haematological Parameters of Mortuary Workers Exposed to Embalment Chemicals in Some Mortuaries in Anambra State- Nigeria

Odiegwu CNC, Ude RC, Onwurah OW, Okey-Onyesolu CF and Odiegwu UO

The toxicity of embalmment chemicals especially formaldehyde to human system including carcinogenicity and other adverse health effects have been reported. This study was designed to ascertain the possibility of exposure to these chemicals in the disruption of haematopoietic functions. 100 apparently healthy individuals (all males) were recruited for this research. Out of this number, 20 who were not mortuary workers and thus not exposed to the embalmment chemicals served as the control. The test groups were categorized as follows: 48 workers exposed to the chemicals for 1-7 years; 13 workers of 8-14 years exposure and 19 workers exposed for 15 years and above. The results of this study showed that the alterations in the peripheral blood cell counts and Hemoglobin (HB) levels of the exposed mortuary workers when compared with the control were not statistically significant (P>0.05). However, there was strong and statistically significant negative correlation (r=0.263, P<0.05) between the total white blood cell (TWBC) count and the duration of exposure to the chemicals. There was also significant variation (P<0.05) in lymphocytes (LYM), neutrophils (NEUT) and mixed field differential (MXD) counts among the exposed groups. The blood film results showed no significant alteration in the number and morphology of the blood cells. This research has succeeded in demonstrating that exposure to embalmment chemicals is capable of disrupting haematopoietic functions.