EVALUATION OF SELECTED IMMUNOLOGIC INDICES AMONG OCCUPATIONALLY EXPOSED MALE PHOTOCOPIER OPERATORS
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Abstract
Photocopying which is the act of paper duplication has become an indispensable activity in academic and business settings which is increasingly been recognized as a source of environmental and occupational hazards. Photocopier machines release emissions containing ultrafine toner particles, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), ozone and heavy metals. Studies reveals that prolonged exposure to these chemical agents among occupationally exposed individuals is associated with respiratory problems, oxidative stress, inflammatory responses and haemotoxicity. Hence, this research was aimed to evaluate selected immunological indices in male photocopier operators who are occupationally exposed to photocopier emissions in university of Benin campus in Benin City. A total of ninety (n=90) participants were used for this study; comprising of sixty (n=60) exposed and thirty (n=30) non-exposed after administering well structural questionnaires. Eight (8) milliliters of venous blood was collected from ante cubital fossa after routine daily work (6-8 hours) using vacutainer
and were dispensed into EDTA and Plain containers for total white blood cell count, Differential cell count, Cluster cell of differentiation count (CD4 + T- Lymphocyte cell) and serum levels of Immunoglobulin E (IgE) respectively. Total white blood cell and Differential cell count were analyzed using SFRI haematology auto-analyzer, CD4 + count using Partec Cyflow counter and serum IgE level was assay using ELISA technique. Data were analyzed using Statistical package for social science (SPSS) version 28. Analysis of variance (ANOVA), Chi-square and analysis of variance Statistical significance level was set at p < 0.05. Total white blood counts (Twbcs), Lymphocytes and monocytes, Absolute Lymphocyte and serum IgE level were significantly higher (p< 0.001) among occupationally exposed group (5.42 ± 0.18, 48.47±1.03, 16.45±0.42, 2.55±0.07 and 2.159±5.92) compared with the non-exposed group (4.01 ± 0.07, 34.31±0.54, 9.61±0.18, 2.11±0.15 and 1.580±3.95) respectively. While Granulocytes and CD4 + cell count were Significantly lower(p<0.001) among
occupationally exposed group (35.16±1.02 and 658.31±19.10) when compared with
non-exposed group (56.08±0.70 and 955.69±97.48). From this study we observed that continuous exposure to photocopying emissions resulted in increased levels of some immunologic parameters and decreased levels in others.
and were dispensed into EDTA and Plain containers for total white blood cell count, Differential cell count, Cluster cell of differentiation count (CD4 + T- Lymphocyte cell) and serum levels of Immunoglobulin E (IgE) respectively. Total white blood cell and Differential cell count were analyzed using SFRI haematology auto-analyzer, CD4 + count using Partec Cyflow counter and serum IgE level was assay using ELISA technique. Data were analyzed using Statistical package for social science (SPSS) version 28. Analysis of variance (ANOVA), Chi-square and analysis of variance Statistical significance level was set at p < 0.05. Total white blood counts (Twbcs), Lymphocytes and monocytes, Absolute Lymphocyte and serum IgE level were significantly higher (p< 0.001) among occupationally exposed group (5.42 ± 0.18, 48.47±1.03, 16.45±0.42, 2.55±0.07 and 2.159±5.92) compared with the non-exposed group (4.01 ± 0.07, 34.31±0.54, 9.61±0.18, 2.11±0.15 and 1.580±3.95) respectively. While Granulocytes and CD4 + cell count were Significantly lower(p<0.001) among
occupationally exposed group (35.16±1.02 and 658.31±19.10) when compared with
non-exposed group (56.08±0.70 and 955.69±97.48). From this study we observed that continuous exposure to photocopying emissions resulted in increased levels of some immunologic parameters and decreased levels in others.
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