Immunological Variation in Environmental and Non-Environmental Workers in Ekpoma, Edo State

Abstract

Environmental workers, including those involved in waste management, sanitation, and hazardous material handling, are regularly exposed to a diverse array of biological, chemical, and physical agents. To determine the immunological variation in Environmental and Non-Environmental workers in Ekpoma. A total of twenty (20) apparently healthy health care workers comprising of both sexes and belonging to the age ranges of 19 years and above years were recruited for this study. The Immunological parameters were analyzed using Sysmex KX-21N haematological autoanaylzer. The results show a statistically significant increase in environmental workers RBC, HB and MCV but no statistically significant variation in the lymphocytes and white blood cell. Write a discussion from the results showing the reference range of environmental workers for WBC was 4.52 to 6.80× 10^12/L, lymphocyte was 36.2-56 × 10^12/L, RBC was 5.40 to 6.10 × 10^9/L, HB was 15.37 to 15.95g/L, HCT was 43.70 to 46.60%. The reference range of non- environmental workers for WBC was 4.32 to 5.7210^12/L, lymphocyte was 40.2-57.910^12/L, RBC was 3.87 to 4.8810^9/L, HB was 13.00 to 15.00g/L, HCT was 35.4 to 42.1%. In conclusion, the statistically significant increase in RBC, HB, and MCV observed among environmental workers may be attributed to occupational exposure to pollutants, oxidative stress, and the stimulation of erythropoiesis. The stability of lymphocyte and WBC counts highlights the adaptive capacity of the immune system in response to chronic exposure to environmental stressors. These findings align with existing literature but also highlight the need for further studies to explore the impact of specific environmental exposures on hematological parameters.