Assessments of hematological parameters of petrol filling workers at petrol stations in Gondar town, Amhara Region, North West Ethiopia: A comparative cross-sectional study

Abstract

ABSTRACT Background: Petrol is the non-specific term for petroleum which is used for inside combustion of engines. Petrol filling workers are exposed to many harmful substances present in their work places. Objective: The objective of this study is to assess hematological parameters of petrol filling workers compared with health control in Gondar town, North West Ethiopia. Methods: A comparative cross-sectional study was conducted from January to March 2019 in Gondar town, North West Ethiopia. A total of 110 study participants comprising 55 study group and 55 controls group that recruited by convenient sampling technique were used. Socio-demographic data was collected using structured questionnaire and 3 ml of venous blood was collected for the determination of hematological parameters. The data was entered in Epi info 7.2.0.1 and analyzed using SPSS version of 20. Mean, standard deviation, median and interquartile ranges were used to present the data. Moreover, independent t-test and Mann-Whitney U- test were used for comparing hematological parameters between the two groups. Pearson and Spearman’s rank-order correlations analysis were used to describe the correlation of hematological parameters with duration of work. P value of < 0.05 was statistically significant. Results: The mean values of red blood cell count and hemoglobin values as well as median values of hematocrit, mean cell hemoglobin concentration, platelets, Lymphocytes absolute count and red cell distribution width were significantly increased among petrol filling workers as compared with control group. However, the mean value of mean cell hemoglobin value was significantly reduced in petrol filling workers compared with control group. Values of red blood cell count and mean cell hemoglobin concentration showed strong positive significant correlations with duration of petrol exposures. However, mean cell volume value showed strong negative significant correlations. Conclusion: Findings in this study should lead us to conclude that hematological indices might be valuable to show early hematological variations in petrol filling workers who had been exposed to petrol vapor as compared to the non- exposed group. However, further follow- up study should be conducted.