Full Length Research Paper

Selected heavy metals and electrolyte levels in blood of workers and residents of industrial communities

Babalola O. O¹* and Babajide S. O²

¹Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Obafemi Awolowo University Ile Ife Nigeria.

²Department of Science Laboratory Technology, Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, P. M. B 2210, Abeokuta, Nigeria.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: doctorbablo@yahoo.com.Tel: +2348037143321.

Accepted 30 January, 2009

   Abstract

The study focused on the determination of the levels of lead, cadmium, sodium and potassium in the blood of selected industrial workers (n = 36), residents of the neighboring communities (n = 36) as well as the residents of the communities further away from any industrial setting (which controls) (n = 12). The subjects were recruited from the granite served as the, ceramic and cement industries at Ewekoro, Abeokuta North and South Local government areas of Ogun state, Nigeria. The blood lead (BPb) and cadmium (BCd) were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry, while blood sodium (BNa⁺) and potassium (BK⁺) were determined by flame photometry. The weight and height of all respondents were measured in addition to other information obtained through a structured questionnaire and their body mass indices computed. The mean BCd, BNa⁺ and BK⁺ for controls and the test subjects were not significantly different from each other. Significant difference was only observed in the level of BPb between the test and the control. This was also observed when comparing the mean of all the measurements in the blood of residents of the neighboring communities with that of the control subjects. These results revealed that workers and the residents of the neighboring communities are at the risk of lead poisoning to which they were exposed.

Key words: Industrial communities, heavy metals level, electrolyte levels.