Assessment of Bilirubin, Alkaline Phosphatase, Aspartate and Alanine Transaminases of Domestic Gas Factory Workers

Gasoline station workers are regularly exposed to many hazardous toxins vapors which can cause abnormal alterations in the functioning of many vital organs and they are associated with increased risk of liver dysfunction. This study was carried out to evaluate the Alkaline phosphatase (ALP), Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST), Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and Bilirubin in domestic cooking gas factory workers in Benin City, Edo State. ALT, AST and ALT were determined enzymatically, while bilirubin was determined using Chemical Pathology semi-autoanalyzer. Statistical analysis was done using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and the student’s t-test. Significant difference was accepted at p<0.05. The results presented in mean ± standard deviation showed that the total bilirubin (mg/dl) of the subjects and control group was 1.12±0.33 and 0.52±0.18, conjugated bilirubin (mg/dl) was 0.44±0.12 and 0.28±0.13, AST (U/L) was 10.33±2.35 and 6.97±2.14, ALT (U/L) was 8.43±2.37 and 5.50±2.05, while ALP (U/L) was 74.83±19.51 and 37.37±17.23 respectively. Total bilirubin, conjugated bilirubin, AST, ALT and ALP were significantly higher (p<0.05) in domestic gas factory workers compared with control group. The total bilirubin (mg/dl) of male and female subjects was 1.25±0.36 and 0.97±0.15, conjugated bilirubin (mg/dl) was 0.45±0.11 and 0.41±0.12, AST (U/L) was 10.83±2.33 and 9.33±1.92, ALT (U/L) was 8.79±2.32 and 7.58±2.10, while ALP (U/L) was 79.91±17.56 and 64.17±19.61 respectively. The total bilirubin (mg/dl) of domestic gas factor workers who have worked for less than 1 year, between 1 – 5 years and for more than 5 years was 0.94±0.22, 1.14±0.25 and 1.54±0.24, conjugated bilirubin (mg/dl) was 0.38±0.09, 0.43±0.09 and 0.57±0.08, AST (U/L) was 8.43±1.16, 10.50±1.60 and 12.91±1.81, ALT (U/L) was 6.50±1.95, 8.79±1.42 and 10.45±1.81, while ALP (U/L) was 57.71±16.73, 78.28±10.40 and 93.55±11.04 respectively. The study concludes that exposure to gasoline by domestic gas factory workers showed increase liver function test parameters. This study observed that the domestic gas factory workers are at risk of developing biochemical alterations in the hepatic enzymes and liver function tests. Long term exposure to gasoline should be monitored, thus calling for collaboration between the health workers and gas factory management to ensure frequent monitoring of their workers health.