ABSTRACT

Human activities such as sawmilling is known to generate wood dust or fibers that has detrimental effects on the health of sawmill workers such as occupational asthma and Congestive Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD. This research was aimed to evaluate the impact of sawdust exposure on CD4 T-lymphocyte counts, total circulating lymphocytes and serum concentration of interleukin-6 levels among sawmill workers in Benin Metropolis. This case-control study comprising. a total of 90 participants (60 exposed and 30 non-exposed). Approximately eight milliliters (8 ml) of blood were collected from the ante cubital fossa using vacutainer set. Four milliliters(4.0ml) of the blood was dispensed into plain containers for the analysis of interleukin-6 while the remaining 4.0ml was also dispensed into an k₂EDTA container for the analysis of CD4 count and haematological parameters (Total lymphocyte count). The serum interleukin concentration (IL-6) level was determined using ELISA technique, THE CD4 was determined using Flow Cytometry, while the haematological parameter was determined using the SYSMEX XP-300 hematological autoanalyzer and TLC obtained by multiplying relatively percentage lymphocytes by Total White Blood Cell count (Twbc). Statistical Package for Social Scientists (SPSS) version 26.0. was used for the analysis of data obtained. Results revealed highly significant(p=0.000)increase in serum concentration ofIL-6 level (3.54±0.19) among occupationally exposed saw millers when compared to the non-exposed control group (2.19±0.14). Also, the TLC value was statistically highly significant(p=0.000) among exposed group (2.55±0.07) when compared to the non-exposed control group. Contrarily, NLR statistically highly significant(p=0.000) decrease among exposed group (2.11±0.15) when compared to the non-exposed control group. Conversely, CD4 T lymphocytes counts values (P<0.003) was significantly lower in the exposed group (658.31±19.10) when compared to the non-exposed group (955.69±97.48). Conclusively, exposure to wood dust or fibers can caused decrease in CD4 T lymphocyte count and increase in interleukin-6 and Total lymphocyte count as observed in this study. The decrease in the immunogenic determinant is a testament that chronic occupational exposure can give room for other opportunistic infection among sawmill workers.