Browsing by Author "Mesfin, Abigail"

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    Evaluation of Hematological Parameters among Gas station Workers in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
    (Addis Ababa University, 2025-06) Mesfin, Abigail; Tsegaye, Aster (PhD); Negash, Mikias (PhD)
    Background: Chronic exposure of gas station workers to hydrocarbons of gasoline particularly benzene, toluene, ethyl benzene and xylene were reported to induce bone marrow failure and impaired hematopoietic system. However hematological profile of gas station workers is not well documented in resource limited settings like Ethiopia in particular in the study area Addis Ababa. Objective: To evaluate hematological parameters of gas station workers in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia from January to March 2025. Methods: Comparative cross sectional study was conducted on 302 (151 exposed and 151 apparently healthy control) study subjects enrolled using convenient sampling technique. Complete blood count was performed using Unicel®DxH800 Beckman-coulter automated hematology analyzer and peripheral morphology using wright stain were used to diagnose any hematological changes in participants. Socio-demographic and duration of exposure was collected using a semi structured questionnaire and observational checklist. The statistical package for the social sciences (SPSS) version 30 was used to enter and analyze the data. Result: From the total participants 13.2% (20/151) from exposed and 13.2% (20/151) from control group of the participants were women. Median age of participants was 36.23±9.41 and 36.08±9.41, respectively. Hemoglobin (16.39±1.43 vs 15.54±1.85; p<0.001), Mean platelet volume (9.3±1.24 vs 9.0±1.2; p=0.031), lymphocyte percentage (28.39±9.13 vs 25.40±8.8; p=0.004), absolute lymphocyte (1.69±0.59 vs 1.39±0.41; p<0.001) were significantly higher in gas station workers as compared with the control group. The highest number of exposed group, 66 (43.7%), had worked in the gas station for 2 and less years. Conclusion; Overall, the current study findings have revealed that occupational exposure to gasoline have significant alteration on selected hematological parameters. The increased lymphocyte count and decrease hemoglobin with long term exposure suggest varied effect on different cell lineages. Decreased neutrophil and monocyte count observed were also implication of early stage hematological disturbance due to chronic benzene exposure.