ASSESSMENT OF SOME CARDIAC ENZYMES AMONG PETROLEUM FILLING STATION ATTENDANTS IN OWERRIIMO STATE

In recent years, occupational health hazards have grown as one of the major public health issues worldwide. The present study was aimed to assess the level of cardiac enzymes among petroleum filling station attendants in Owerri. The study subjects consisted of twenty individuals working as petrol station attendants in Owerri, Imo State for three years and twenty apparently healthy males and females who are not occupationally exposed. Blood samples were collected aseptically by venopuncture, using a 5ml sterile disposable syringe and needle from petrol station attendants and Controls was disposed into a labeled plain dry specimen container. All reagents were commercially purchased and the manufacturer’s standard operational procedures were strictly followed. All data obtained in the study were analyzed using the independent student t-test (SPSS.20). The level of significance was set at P=0.05. The mean value of Creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB) was significantly increased in petrol attendants (2.35±0.50)ng/ml when compared to controls (1.17±0.66)ng/ml. The mean value of Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) was significantly increased in petrol attendants (310.74±20.69)IU/L when compared to controls (282.95±13.76)IU/L. The mean value of Aspartate transaminase(AST) was significantly increased in petrol attendants (22.16±4.39)IU/L when compared to controls (11.05±2.61)IU/L. There was a non-significant positive correlation (r=0.06, p=0.808; r=0.13, p=0.574) between Creatine kinase-MB with Lactate dehydrogenase and Aspartate transaminase in petrol attendants. In conclusion it was observed that the petrol pump attendants are at greater risk of developing biochemical alterations in the cardiac enzymes with time due to the significant increase in the level of Aspartate transaminase, Creatine kinase-MB and Lactate dehydrogenase.