HEMATOLOGICAL STUDIES AMONG GURHAKU SMOKERS IN SELECTED AREAS OF BALOCHISTAN

Gurhaku, is one of the newly emerging smoking materials, prepared by mixing tobacco dust and molasses smoked in hookah. Tobacco smoking causes human health problems and has got a close association with the environmental contamination. In the present study Hematological parameters of Gurhaku smokers were analyzed by the hematological analyzer while the elemental analysis of waste water were carried out by using atomic Absorption Spectroscopy. The results of the current study revealed that the Ghurhaku smokers have reduced levels of Hb and have significantly higher platelet and WBCs count including lymphocytes and granulocytes. However, the RBC count, Mean Corpuscular volume (MCV), and Hematocrit percentage (HCT %) did not show any significant change. The elemental analysis of the Gurhaku smoked Hookah smoked water revealed the concentration of Pb was higher than WHO permitted value. The concentrations of Mn, Cd, Zn, Fe, Cu, Ca and Mg have lower values than the WHO permitted values. It is suggested on the basis of this study that the complete blood count (CBC) of the Gurhaku smokers be dealt with caution in hospitals. Key words: Ghurhaku, Heavy metals, hematology, Atomic absorption Spectroscopy