Biochemical indicators of occupational health hazards in Nkalagu cement industry workers, Nigeria

Routine diagnostic tests for some organ-system functions were adopted as biochemical probes in health screening of cement milling workers. Thirty-five volunteers from the Nkalagu cement industry, Nigeria were screened. Out of 14 biochemical parameters studied, raised levels of serum bicarbonates (HCO-), aspartic transaminase (AST) and alanine transaminase (ALT) were observed among cement milling workers compared with a control population. Elevated bicarbonate values were found to differ statistically (P < 0.05) between the quarry workers and the rest of the volunteer work population. In a similar manner, elevated ALT values differ statistically (P < 0.05) between the kilning workers and the rest of the study population. Elevated bicarbonate values are associated with chronic bronchitis, while elevated values of AST and ALT suggest susceptibility to hepatitis, particularly anicteric hepatitis as the elevated values of the transaminase were not matched by a corresponding rise in serum bilirubin. The implications of this study to occupational health screening cannot be overemphasized. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.