Effect of automobile workshop on the health status of automechanics in N. W. F. P., Pakistan.

Abstract

Automobile workers are at high risk for lung, urinary tract, brain and skin cancers due to their direct exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) and lead (Pb) toxicity. The current study was aimed to assess the effect of automobile workshop environment on health of auto mechanics in N. W. F. P. Pakistan. A questionnaire was designed and blood samples were collected from the auto mechanics and students. Students of University of Malakand were selected as control, that is, that were not exposed to automobile workshop environment. Serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase (SGPT), uric acid, calcium, bilirubin, haemoglobin levels and the prevalence of hepatitis B and C were observed. The results of the workers showed an increase in concentrations of SGPT (104.4 ± 49.46 IU/L), calcium (18.96 ± 0.04877 mg/dl), bilirubin direct (0.877 ± 0.206 mg/dl) and bilirubin indirect (0.986 ± 0.324 mg/dl) as compared to students. Significant decrease was observed in haemoglobin (9.635 ± 0.2405 mg/dl) level. The mean value of uric acid was (6.93 ± 1.077 mg/dl), 50% of the workers had high uric acid level and 12% had low level of uric acid as compared to control group. The percentage of occurrence of hepatitis B and C in the workers was 10 and 18% respectively and 4% of the workers were positive for both. The results for uric acid, SGPT, calcium, bilirubin and haemoglobin were in normal range in students. The prevalence rate of hepatitis was zero among the control group. We concluded that workshop environment has significant ill effect on liver and kidney function. However, further studies should be done on large population size to avoid all these risks to the workers of such environment. Key words: Liver function, kidney function, automobile workshop