抄録
Occupational exposure to cement dust causes many serious health hazards to workers. This study was done to assess the liver enzyme status and its subsequent effects on cardio-vascular parameters of construction workers from West Bengal, India. This was a comparative cross sectional study. The exposed group included 150 male construction workers. Fifty-two subjects of the matched unexposed control group of the same socio-economic status were selected randomly. Their age ranged from 15-60 years. Blood samples were collected from each participant. Liver enzyme parameters and cardio-vascular parameters were compared between the exposed and control groups of workers. The serum SGPT (alanine aminotransferase, ALT), SGOT (aspartate aminotransferase, AST), ALP levels were significantly higher while total bilirubin and creatinine levels were significantly lower in construction workers compared with those in the control group. Alcoholic construction of the workers was insignificant but negatively correlated with year of exposure in case of AST, GGT, ALP and ACP. A strong association was found between BMI and serum GGT levels. Besides, smoking habit, alcohol consumption, BMI and year of exposure played a significant role in developing pre-hypertension. Moreover, multiple logistic regression showed that age and BMI were significant predictors of increase in ALP in construction workers. This study suggested that construction workers working in hazardous environment needed support by health education. Proper ventilation in their workplace, use of less toxic cement and use of sophisticated instruments will protect the health of workers. Smoking of tobacco and alcohol intake should be restricted as preventive actions which will protect their health and reduce mortality and early retirement.
