Assessment of Some Heavy Metals, Electrolytes and Nutritional Status of Masons (Cement Brick Layers) in Uromi, Nigeria

Background: This study determined the effect of exposure to cement on plasma concentrations of heavy metals such as Silicon, Aluminium, and Chromium, electrolytes and the effect on nutritional parameters such as Protein (Albumin and globulin), and Total Cholesterol in the plasma of cement handlers from the study area. Introduction: Production and usage of cement is a dusty industrial process and the health of the workers have been studied for many years and cement dust has been mostly implicated in various associated diseases. Objective: To determine the level of exposure of cement handlers to the heavy metals commonly present in cement by measuring the plasma concentration, to determine the level of lipid peroxidation by cement components by assessment of the total plasma cholesterol and to determine the health implication of prolonged exposure to cement by assessment of nutritional parameters. Design: A total of fourty Masons (Popularly referred to as Bricklayers) were randomly selected for the study and twenty controls who were office workers/students not resident in a town were a cement factory is located, and have never worked as cement handlers. Result: Plasma Aluminium (μg/mL) level was significantly higher for bricklayers of 1-10 years (B1) (0.56 ± 0.08) and bricklayers of >10 years (0.68 ± 0.08), plasma chromium (μg/mL) levels of bricklayers of 1-10 years (0.36 ± 0.06) and bricklayers of >10 years (32 ± 0.05) in comparison with the control (0.31 ± 0.05) was significantly higher. Silicon (μg/mL) levels were not significant for both bricklayers of 1-10 years (0.04 ± 0.05) and bricklayers of >10 years (0.03 ± 0.00). Plasma Magnesium (mmol/l) in comparison with control (0.67 ± 0.11) was significantly higher for bricklayers of 1-10 years (0.76 ± 0.12) and bricklayers of >10 years (0.76 ± 0.07). Plasma Calcium (mg/dl) for bricklayers of 1-10 years (8.62 ± 0.60) was not significant, but significantly higher levels was observed for bricklayers of >10 years (9.99 ± 0.87). Plasma Sodium levels (mmol/l) in comparison with the control (138.30 ± 3.28) was significantly higher for bricklayers of 1-10 years (140.75 ± 2.36), but was statistically not significant for bricklayers of >10 years (139.70 ± 2.64). Potassium (mmol/l) was not signifiant for both groups (3.90 ± 0.21 and 3.91 ± 0.31).Total Protein(g/dl) levels in comparison with control (8.54 ± 1.19) was not significant for both groups..Significantly lower levels of cholesterol (mg/dl) were observed for both groups (138.85 ± 30.07 and 127.00 ± 30.35). Conclusion: The study revealed that some of the heavy metals and other elements present in the composition of cement such as Chromium, Aluminium, Calcium and Magnesium were detected in significantly higher amounts in the test subjects (Bricklayers) in comparison with the control. Lipid peroxidation may have also occurred as a result of the effect of the heavy metals and other components of cement.