Abstract

EVALUATION OF THE EFFECT OF GASOLINE ON SERUM CALCIUM, MAGNESIUM AND PHOSPHORUS LEVEL IN PETROL STATION ATTENDANTS IN YENAGOA, NIGERIA

Onitsha Enebrayi N.*, Egoro Emmanuel T., Okutu Jackson B. and Okonkwo Benedicta N.

Abstract

Exposure to hazardous substances like benzene, toluene, xylene, and ethyl benzene (BTEX) present in crude oil portends serious health problem to humans. This present study investigated the effects of petrol fumes on calcium, magnesium and phosphorus levels in serum of petrol station attendants in Yenagoa, Nigeria. A total of fifty (50) apparently healthy male and female subjects within the age range of eighteen (18) and forty (40) years were recruited for this study. Thirty (30) subjects were petrol station attendants; while twenty (20) were non petrol station attendants who served as control. Blood samples were collected from the subjects; the three parameters calcium, magnesium and phosphorus were analyzed spectrophotometrically using 0-cresolpthalein Complexon, Xyldyl blue and Molybdate UV methods respectively. Results showed statistically significant (P0.05) reduction as compared with the control (0.86±0.09 and 1.14±0.22 respectively). Furthermore, there was a statistically significant (P

Keywords: Calcium, Gasoline, Magnesium, Phosphorus, and Petrol Station Attendants