STUDY OF LEUCOCYTE COUNT AND ITS ASSOCIATION WITH BLOOD PRESSURE IN PETROL PUMP WORKERS OF SURAT CITY

Background & objectives: Petrol pump workers are exposed to many noxious chemicals like benzene (C6H6) which has carcinogenic and haematotoxic effects. Current study was conducted to find out the effect of benzene and air pollutants exposure on granulocyte & agranulocyte counts, blood pressure and their correlation in petrol pump workers of Surat city. Methods: Thirty healthy male petrol pump workers and thirty (30) healthy male non-petrol pump workers aged 20-50 years were selected as study and control groups. Data regarding participant’s age, height, weight, pulse rate, blood pressure etc. were recorded. Blood samples were collected in the morning (8-10AM). Data were presented as mean + SD and compared using unpaired t-test. p value < 0.05 were considered as statistically significant. Pearson’s correlation factor (r) was found between granulocyte-agranulocyte counts and BMI, Pulse rate and blood pressure. Results: Lymphocyte counts were significantly lower in the study group (%LYM 34+8.6) than control group (38.4+6.7). Monocyte counts were significantly higher in study group (%MON 8.29+3.1) than the control group (6.64+1.6). Granulocyte counts were higher in study group (%GRA 57.17+15.03) than in the control group (54.92+7.29). Mean arterial pressure was significantly higher (92.35+2.2) in study group than in control group (90.22+3.0) and it shows significant positive correlation with leucocyte. Interpretation & conclusion: Long term exposure to benzene leads to decreased lymphocyte count which may be due to bone marrow suppression. Monocytes are significantly increased in petrol pump workers which might be due to subclinical inflammation and allergic reactions. Petrol pump workers have raised mean arterial blood pressure which might be due to adverse effect of air pollutants on autonomic nervous system