Assessment of changes in some hematological parameters among Benzene station workers in Khartoum State

Abstract

Benzene exposure is one of the main health concerns for high risk occupation hazards, it can cause abnormal alterations in the functioning of many vital organs including hematopoietic system. This is an analytical descriptive cross sectional study intended to find out the possible changes in some hematological parameters in benzene station workers in Khartoum State from August to December 2015. Forty benzene station workers and 30 control subjects matched for age were enrolled in the study. 2.5 ml of venous blood were collected in K2 EDTA anticoagulant containers. Complete blood count was performed by an automated blood analyzer (Sysmex kx 21N). Data were analyzed by independent t-test and one way ANOVA using SPSS computer program version 16. The benzene station workers showed significantly higher values than the control; RBCs ×106/𝜇𝑙(5.02±0.65 vs 4.7±0.3), mean hemoglobin level g/dl(14.5±1.01 vs 13.6±0.54), MCV fl(84.5±8.2 vs 88.9±5.6), and MCHC g/dl(43.5±5.5 vs 32.4±1.4), while HCT %, MCH pg did not vary between the two groups P.value (>0.05). Platelets ×103/𝜇𝑙 of benzene station workers showed significantly lower than that of the control (211±77.89 vs 264±86.72). The Benzene station workers also had increased MXD ×103/𝜇𝑙 (0.81±0.45 vs 0.6±0.25); in contrast WBCs ×103/𝜇𝑙, lymphocytes ×103/𝜇𝑙, and neutrophils ×103/𝜇𝑙 did not vary between the benzene station workers and the control. The platelets ×103/𝜇𝑙 count was gradually reduced as the duration of the work progresses P.value (0.000) as well as lymphocytes ×103/𝜇𝑙 P.value (0.017), while WBCs ×103/𝜇𝑙, RBCs ×105/𝜇𝑙, HBG g/dl, HCT %, MCV fl, MCH pg, MCHC g/dl, MXD ×103/𝜇𝑙, and Neutrophils ×103/𝜇𝑙 values did not vary regard to the years of exposures to benzene fumes P.value (>0.05). The results concluded that there are changes in some hematological parameters among benzene station workers, and suggest that these workers are susceptible to serious hematological changes as the duration of the work progresses.