Anemia Risk in Relation to Occupational and Environmental Lead Exposure among Inhabitants of Enyigba Lead-Zinc Mining Community in Ebonyi State, Nigeria

Abstract

Introduction: Environmental and occupational exposure to lead contamination is associated with numerous adverse health effects. This study brought forth the case of anemia risk in relation to occupational and environmental lead exposure among inhabitants of Enyigba lead-zinc mining community, in Ebonyi State, Nigeria. Methodology: Blood samples (4mls) were collected from 150 consented participants, by venopuncture and preserved in plain vacutaner bottles. Blood-lead concentration was determined using FS 240AA atomic absorption spectrophotometer (Agilent Technology, USA) according to the method of American Public Health Association. The iron status (total iron, unsaturated iron binding capacity, ferritin, total iron binding capacity, transferin) and hematological indices (hematocrit, hemoglobin, red blood cell count, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular hemoglobin, and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration) were determined according to standard methods. An interviewer-administered structured questionnaire designed to reflect basic demographic features was administered to the subjects. Correlation analyses were used to investigate the relationships between blood lead concentrations and hematological indices, iron status and related confounders. Results: The mean blood lead concentrations (BPbC) of the participants were: occupationally–exposed, 42.30 ±10.90 µg/dl; environmentally-exposed, 28.66 ± 9.12µg/dl; Controls, 4.76 ±2.16 µg/dl. There were significant differences (p < 0.05 for each) between the blood lead concentrations of the exposed participants and the control. The mean blood iron concentrations (BFeC) of the participants were: occupationally exposed 29.54 ± 4.23 µg/dl; Environmentally-exposed, 41.97 ± 7.44µg/dl; Controls, 55.00 (23.19±23.19 µg/dl. There were significant differences (p < 0.05 for each) between the blood iron concentrations of the exposed participants and the control. There were significant negative correlations between blood lead concentration (BPbC) and each of the hematological indices: RBC (r = -0.165, p<0.05), Hb (r = -0.506, p<0.001), Hct (r = -0.478, p<0.001), MCV (r = -0.408, p<0.001), MCH (r = -0.397, p<0.001) as well as MCHC (r= -0.385, p<0.001). Conclusion: There was anemia risk in relation to occupational and environmental lead exposure among the inhabitants of the Enyigba lead-zinc mining community.