Abstract

Onyebuchi Frederick Orinya76211*, Sunday Oge Elom76212, Kingsley Nwonu Agbafor76214, Emmanuel Iroha Akubugwo76215, Joseph Uche odo76216, Prince Nkemakolam Okoroh76217, Okwunna Onyekachi Ikwuazom76218 and Kizito Akachukwu Agu76219

In recent years, Ebonyi state has experienced a rapid increase in the proliferation of quarry industries due to the high demand for stone for construction in the fast-developing state and its neighboring. This has contributed significantly to dust pollution within the vicinity of these quarry sites. We investigated the effect of quarry dust on some hematological and hepatic parameters of guinea pigs exposed to quarry dust at Umuoghara (UMR) and Amoffia Ngbo (AMN) quarry sites in Ebonyi state. The control site was the College of Agricultural Science (CAS) Campus of Ebonyi state University. A total of 288 adult male guinea pigs, weighing between 500 g to 800 g, were used for the study. They were divided into three groups of 96 guinea pigs each, labeled UMR, AMN and Clinical Trial Regulation (CTR), respectively. Each group was further subdivided into four subgroups of 24 guinea pigs each. Groups UMR and AMN were exposed to their respective quarry sites, while group CTR was kept at the control site, with analyses conducted at three-month intervals.

Hematological parameters measured included hemoglobin (Hb) concentration, Red Blood Cell (RBC) count, Packed Cell Volume (PCV), White Blood Cell (WBC) count and platelet count. Hepatic parameters assessed included activities of Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST), Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT), Gamma-Glutamyl Transferase (GGT), Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP), total protein, albumin and globulin in the exposed guinea pigs, with duration of exposure taken into account. The Hb, RBC and PCV levels were significantly lower p<0.05 in the exposed guinea pigs compared to the control group and decreased significantly p<0.05 with increasing length of exposure. Conversely, WBC and platelet counts were significantly higher p<0.05 in the exposed groups.

The activities of serum AST, ALT, GGT and ALP were also significantly higher p<0.05 in the exposed groups than in the controls and increased significantly p<0.05 with duration of exposure. Additionally, total protein, albumin and globulin concentrations were significantly lower p<0.05 in the exposed groups compared to the control group. It was observed that the effects of exposure to dust on the guinea pigs were more pronounced at site AMN than at UMR. The findings suggest that the adverse effects of exposure to quarry dust depend on both the quantity of dust and the duration of exposure.