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ABSTRACT
Wood dust exposure by inhalation in sawmill operations poses significant occupational health risks, including potential oxidative stress and hematological alterations. This study assessed serum oxidative stress biomarkers; (superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPX), catalase (CAT), and malondialdehyde (MDA)), Total white blood cell (WBC) counts and differentials cell count among occupationally exposed sawmill workers in Benin metropolis. A total of 90 participants were recruited for this (60 exposed and 30 non-exposed). Approximately eight (8mL) of blood was collected from the ante cubital fossa using vacutainer set and was dispensed into an EDTA container for the analysis Full Blood Count parameters (Total White Blood Cell Count and Differential count) while the remaining blood was taken in plain container for the analysis of for MDA using the TBARS assay, SOD by the epinephrine autoxidation inhibition assay, GPX by the pyrogallol enzymatic assay, and CAT by the spectrophotometric hydrogen peroxide decomposition assay. Data obtained was analyzed by the Statistical Package for Social Scientists (SPSS) version 28.0. Results obtained showed significantly elevated levels of SOD (90.22±1.33 vs 45.07±1.86), GPX (255.15±9.68 vs 207.47±2.91), CAT (14.10±0.24 vs 9.17±0.44), and MDA (134.18±4.36 vs 111.93±3.92) were observed among exposed sawmill workers when compared with non-exposed (p=0.000). Positive correlations were found between GPX and MDA (r=0.398, p=0.002), and SOD and CAT (r=0.438, p=0.001). Additionally, exposed workers exhibited higher WBC counts (5.42±0.18 vs. 4.01±0.07), lymphocyte percentages (48.47±1.03 vs. 34.31±0.54), and monocyte (16.45±0.42 vs. 9.61±0.18%), but lower granulocyte percentages (35.16±1.02 vs. 56.08±0.70) compared to controls (p=0.000). In conclusion, chronic exposure to wood dust or fiber among occupationally exposed sawmill workers revealed that oxidative stress was induced due to the inabilities of the enzymatic antioxidant system to mop up the excess free radicals and resulted in the various haematological changes seen in this study.
