Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon, Haematological and Oxidative Stress Levels in Commercial Photocopier Operators in Lagos, Nigeria
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March 2015 Volume 49, Number 1 GHANA MEDICAL JOURNAL POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC HYDROCARBON, HAEMATOLOGICAL AND OXIDATIVE STRESS LEVELS IN COMMERCIAL PHOTOCOPIER OPERATORS IN LAGOS, NIGERIA O. AWODELE, A.J. AKINDELE, G.O. ADEBOWALE and O.O. ADEYEMI Department of Pharmacology, Therapeutics & Toxicology, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Idi- Araba Campus, PMB 12003, Lagos, Nigeria DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/gmj.v49i1.7 Corresponding Author: Prof. Olaide Olufunmilayo Adeyemi Email: [email protected] Conflict of Interest: None declared SUMMARY Keywords: Photocopier operators, oxidative stress, Background: Human exposure to hazardous PAH, haematology, Nigeria. substances in the environment has been known to play an important role in the pathogenesis of some diseases. INTRODUCTION Photocopying machines have become a cheap source of Exposure of humans to hazardous substances in the self-employment in Nigeria. For obvious reasons the environment has been known to play an important role highest level of patronage is encountered in the in the pathogenesis of some diseases.1 Exposure to campuses of educational institutions. However, the toxic substances at work places like in shoe-making persons who operate the machines are always exposed companies, tobacco and rubber industries and to to possible hazards associated with the job without petrochemicals can pose a serious health hazard. 2-5 In protective devices. addition, workers may also be exposed to additional Objective: This study investigated the levels of toxic substances due to their social habits such as oxidative stress, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon smoking, tobacco chewing and alcohol consumption. (PAH) and haematological parameters in blood samples of photocopier operators. As a result of massive unemployment and economic Methods: The experimental procedure involved 50 downturn, photocopying machines have become a consented subjects selected based on some criteria. The cheap source of self-employment in Nigeria and for haematological parameters, oxidative stress and PAH obvious reason the highest level of patronage is levels were determined using standard methods. encountered in educational institutions.6 Most of the Results: The results showed no significant difference photocopy shops/centres in Nigerian universities (p ≥ 0.05) in the haematological parameters between exhaust one thousand sheets of paper daily for the test subjects and the controls. However, there were photocopying activities and minimum of 349,000 duration on the job (yrs) dependent significant decrease sheets of duplicating paper per day goes for in the level of superoxide dismutase (SOD) of the photocopying in eight selected universities in South photocopier operators compared with the controls (> 5 West Nigeria.6 years p≤ 0.0001; 4-5 years p≤0.001). The level of re- duced glutathione (GSH) was significantly decreased The report of Gadhia et al7 has also shown that across all lengths of duration on the job compared with photocopiers are used in many work places as a good the controls. source of employment and are common machines in Conclusion: The findings in this study revealed in- Indian markets. The persons who operate the machines creased level of oxidative stress in photocopier opera- are always exposed to possible hazards associated with tors with no significant change in haematological pa- it. Toner which is the main component of the rameters. The health implication of operating photocopying machine consists of carbon black (17%), photocopiers call for quick health education and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH)8, styrene, intervention tailored to monitoring and guiding the magnetite, nitropyrenes, benzene, toluene, other photocopier operators. This will help to prevent or volatile substances and low melt polymer resins mixed manage continuous exposure to the hazards of with minute steel, silica or ferrite bead.9 photocopying machines. 37 March 2015 O. Awodele et al Biochemical Parameters in Photocopier Operators The operators are exposed to toner (while reloading Study Population and unloading the machines) and to toxic gases like The experimental procedure involved 50 consented ozone, nitrogen dioxide, volatile organic compounds subjects. The selection criteria of the study subjects and extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields were based on the outcome of the preliminary survey during their operation8-12. Majority of these agents have carried out. The photocopier operators voluntarily been reported to be mutagenic or genotoxic in either signed an informed consent form at the beginning of bacterial or mammalian systems.9; 13-15 the survey and the consented operators responded to an elaborate questionnaire to determine their socio- Experimental procedure using comet assay demographical data and some job related issues. One measurement showed that workers occupationally hundred and twenty-six questionnaires were returned exposed to photocopying machines suffer increased out of the two hundred and sixty-one that were basal DNA damage.16-17 However, significant distributed. Some categories of respondents were association was found between years of exposure, excluded from the experimental procedure due to their smoking, age, gender, alcohol consumption and high work experience in factories that are noted for harmful level of DNA damage.17 Reduced level of anti-oxidants emissions similar to those of photocopiers, females for like vitamin C and E and superoxide dismustase (SOD) physiological reasons, smokers and alcoholics because and high activity of lipid peroxidation were detected in of their increased oxidative stress tendency. Also the the blood samples of photocopier operators.5 The subjects selected did not include those that had been earlier study of Zhou et al.5 suggested that ozone, taking any anti-oxidant on a regular basis or had been which is one of the gasses released from photocopier exposed to any kind of radiation for 12 months before toner, causes oxidative damage in copier operators. the exercise. Occupational autoimmune disease in photocopying EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE machine workers has also been reported.18 Study Group Haematological study of total red blood cells, total The fifty selected subjects were divided into five white blood cells, haemoglobin percentage and platelet categories. The first four categories consist of 10 count from photocopying machine operators did not subjects each of photocopier operators. The duration of reveal any untoward variations from normal values and the subjects on this job formed the basis of their measurement of their blood pressure showed normal grouping into different categories (2-3 yrs, 3-4 yrs, 4-5 pattern.7 yrs and >5 yrs). The control subjects also consist of 10 consented students of the University who were neither The aim of the present study is to determine the level smokers nor alcoholics. of oxidative stress markers in the blood of workers occupationally exposed to photocopying machines, Sample Collection evaluate the effect on blood cells, and assess the types Blood samples were collected by skilled hands under and levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) sterile conditions through venipuncture. About 3mls of in their plasma. To the best of our knowledge, similar blood were transferred into sodium heparinised bottles or related studies in this category have not been carried for centrifugation and the plasma obtained stored at – out among Nigerian photocopier operators. It is hoped 30 oC for antioxidants and lipid peroxidation assays. that the findings will lead to appropriate Another 2mls were transferred into EDTA bottles for recommendations that will reduce the long term health haematological analysis. While 1ml of the blood implications of operating photocopying machines. samples was withdrawn into the plain bottles for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) assay. METHODS Study Area Measurement of Haematological Parameters, The two main study areas are the University of Lagos Antioxidant Enzymes and Lipid Peroxidation Main Campus, Akoka and the University of Lagos, The haematological parameters (White blood cells, College of Medicine, Idi-Araba, Lagos, Nigeria. Haemoglobin, Neutrophils, Monocytes, Eosinophils University of Lagos is located in South West Nigeria and Lymphocytes) were analysed using fully bordered by the panoramic Lagos lagoon. The total automated clinical haematological analyzer (Hitachi students’ population is about fifteen thousand with an 912, Boehringer Mannheim, Germany). Measurements estimated two hundred and seventy commercial of antioxidant enzymes activity and lipid peroxidation photocopier operators working in both campuses of the were done according to standard procedures: 19,21 21 University. catalase ; superoxide dismutase (SOD) ; 21-22 malondialdehyde (MDA) ; reduced glutathione 38 March 2015 Volume 49, Number 1 GHANA MEDICAL JOURNAL (GSH) and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) were Statistical analysis determined using the methods of Beers and Seizer19 The socio-demographical data were presented in and Beuge and Aust.20 frequency distribution tables with percentages and experimental results were presented as mean ± S.E.M. Determination of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydro- Statistical significance between the control group and carbons the test groups were analyzed by means of Student’s t- Reagents test. P values less than 0.05 were considered The liquid chromatography-grade dichloromethane significant. used for extractions was obtained from Lord Abis Nigeria Ltd. The silica gel used