Occupational Exposure to Oxyacetylene Flame Could Predispose to Macrocytic Anaemia in Welders in Nnewi, South East Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Oxyacetylene flame is known to contain a number deleterious components which could be of potentially occupational health importance. Objective: To evaluate the effects of occupational exposure to oxyacetylene flame on haematological indices in a population of welders in Nnewi, Nigeria. Subjects and Methods: A total of 100 subjects were randomly selected, comprising of 50 apparently healthy welders and controls, respectively. Subjects were further stratified into those that consumed alcohol and/or tobacco products and those who did not. Three milliliter (3ml) of venous blood was collected from each participant and dispensed into potassium- ethylene diamine tetra acetic acid (K-EDTA) containers for full blood count determination. This was done using the Sysmex® automated haematology analyser, Model Number: PCE 210. Results were expressed as means ± SD while the students t-test and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) were used for comparison of means; P was significant at