ABSTRACT
Wooddust is basically a waste or by products of small particles available in saw milling industries, paper industries as well as wood processing industries. Exposure to wooddust has been associated with prevalence of respiratory symptoms and diseases including irritations of mucous membranes, nasal airways, chronic and acute deterioration of lung function, asthma, and allergies. Haematological studies are of ecological and physiological interest in helping to understand the relationship of blood characteristics to the environment. Occupational exposure to wood dust may bring about some changes in blood indices of human. Biomarkers of oxidative stress are relevant in the evaluation of the disease status and of the health-enhancing effects of antioxidants. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of wood dust on hematological parameters and oxidative stress markers in male wistar rat. Twenty-four (24) male wistar albino rats weighing from 140-170g. The animals were randomly grouped into two groups (control group A and exposed group B) each group consisting of twelve animals (n=12), group B were exposed to wood dust for (6) weeks and acclamitized for two weeks. Blood samples were taken through cardiac puncture and samplse were collected for both hematological parameters and oxidative stress biomarkers assay. Data were analyzed using the graph pad prism statistical software. Differences between groups were assessed using one-way ANOVA. Result were presented as mean ± standard error of mean. P<0.05 were considered to statistically significant. Results revealed there was a statistically significant increase (P<0.05) in monocytes count in Group B when compared to the control group. There were no statistically significant difference (P<0.05) of Red Blood Cells (RBC), Mean Corpuscular Volume, Hemoglobin (Hb), Hematocrit (Hct), Mean Corpuscular Haemoglobin (MCH), Mean Corpuscular Haemoglobin Concentration (MCHC), Platelet count (Plt), White Blood Cells (WBC), lympocyte count, granulocyte counts. There were no statistically signicant difference ( P<0.05) of all the oxidative stress biomarkers which include catalase, superoxide dismutase, Glutathione Peroxidase (GPx), Malondialdehyde (MDA) in exposed group as compared to the control group. From this study, exposure to wood dust was shown to cause a signicant increase in monocyctes which could indicate presence of inflammation, infection or blood disorders and these monocytes serves as a first line of defence against infection and inflammation by their phagocytic action.
