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Gebre Teklu,1 Mikias Negash,2 Tsegay Asefaw,1 Feven Tesfay,1 Gebreslassie Gebremariam,1 Gebreyohannes Teklehaimanot,1 Mistire Wolde,2 Aster Tsegaye2 1Department of Medical Laboratory Science, College of Health Sciences, Mekelle University, Mekelle, Ethiopia; 2Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Health Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, EthiopiaCorrespondence: Gebre Teklu Email gebreteklu30@gmail.comAster Tsegaye Email tsegayeaster@yahoo.comBackground: The adverse health effects of chronic gasoline exposure may be related to impairment of the hematopoietic system with bone marrow suppression, an increased risk of blood cell morphology abnormality and developing cancer.Objective: To assess the effect of gasoline exposure on hematological parameters among gas station workers in Mekelle City, Tigray Region, Northern Ethiopia.Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out on 43 subjects (exposed group) and 77 subjects (unexposed group) with matched age and sex. Socio-demographic characteristics and duration of exposure data were collected using a structured questionnaire and an observation checklist. Sysmex XP-300 was used for hematological analysis and stained peripheral blood smear was examined for any abnormality. Data were entered and analyzed using SPSS version 23.Results: Of exposed individuals, 28/43 (65.1%) and 49/77 (63.6%) of controls were males. The average exposure time was 5.19± 4.38 years, with an average working hour of 11.74± 1.89 hours/day. The mean RBC count (1012/L), HCT (%), HGB (g/dl) and platelets count (109/L) of the exposed group were significantly lower (4.88± 0.573, 43.29± 3.71, 15.04± 1.33 and 248.95± 58.19) compared with controls (5.35± 0.533, 44.95± 3.10, 15.59± 1.26 and 292.45± 62.17) at p< 0.05, respectively. The MCH (pg) (30.48± 2.06 vs 29.52± 1.66) and MCHC (g/dl) (34.83± 0.988 vs 34.32± 0.927) were significantly higher in the exposed group compared with controls (p< 0.05). HCT, RBC, HGB and platelet counts were significantly decreased with increased years of exposure (p< 0.05). The peripheral blood film examination revealed basophilic stippling and macrocytosis in 9.3% of the exposed group.Conclusion: Long-term exposure to gasoline at gas stations affected RBC parameters and platelet count. A significant negative correlation was noted between duration of exposure and HGB, HCT and platelet count, warranting implementation of protective measures at gas stations.Keywords: gas station, gasoline, hematological parameters, petroleum

BackgroundVolatile organic compounds such as gasoline and other fuels are associated with a wide variety of deleterious health effects including liver and kidney diseases. Gasoline station workers are exposed to a mixture of hydrocarbons during dispensing. However, no published studies investigated the liver and renal function tests of gasoline station workers in Ethiopia. Therefore the aim of this study was to assess liver and renal function tests among gasoline station workers.MethodA comparative cross sectional study was conduct from January 2018 to April 2018 at Mekelle city, Tigray region, Northern Ethiopia. Liver and renal function tests were analyzed on gasoline exposed (n = 43) and controls (n = 47) by Pentra C400 automated clinical chemistry analyzer. Student independent t-test and one way-ANOVA statistical methods were employed using SPSS Ver23. P-value < 0.05 was regarded as statistically significant.ResultThe mean level of ALT, AST, Urea, creatinine, and uric acid was significantly higher among gasoline stations workers when compared to control study participants. There was also a significant increase in ALT, AST, Urea, creatinine and uric acid among gasoline stations with above 6 years exposure when compared with those exposed for ≤2 and3-6years.ConclusionThese findings suggest that increasing liver and renal parameters may be associated with exposure to gasoline and it is dependent on time of exposure to gasoline.

A preventive test excavation was conducted between May and June 2018 at the site of Gud Bah · ri, which is highly threatened by the expansion of the Wuqro town and the development of a new settlement to its north. Six trenches were opened to check the stratigraphy and horizontal distribution of iron slags identified on the surface. Trenches 1, 3, 4, and 5 yielded high amounts of iron slag, and trenches 2 and 6 allowed for the identification of walls which suggest that a residential site was also present. Survey and geochemical analysis show that the iron ore located in the direct vicinity of the site may have been the source for ancient iron production. Preliminary analysis of pottery and radiocarbon dating indicate that the site was possibly occupied from the pre-Aksumite period to the late post-Aksumite period., Une fouille préventive a été menée entre mai et juin 2018 sur le site de Gud Bahri, fortement menacé par l’expansion de la ville de Wuqro et le développement de nouvelles habitations dans sa partie nord. Six tranchées ont été ouvertes afin de vérifier la stratigraphie et la distribution horizontale des scories de fer identifiées en surface. Les tranchées 1, 3, 4 et 5 ont livré de grandes quantités de scories de fer, et les tranchées 2 et 6 ont permis d’identifier des murs qui suggèrent la présence d’un site résidentiel. La prospection et les analyses géochimiques montrent que le filon localisé à proximité du site pourrait avoir été la source de la production de fer. L’étude préliminaire des céramiques et les datations radiocarbone indiquent que le site a possiblement été occupé entre la période pré-aksumite et la période post-aksumite tardive., Berhe Hiluf,Haftu Mulata,Abrhaz Senait,Haileyesus Desta,Bekeriex Ayele,Teklu Gebre,Fiqadu Shegalem,Kiros Alemayehu. Preliminary report on a test excavation at the ancient iron smelting site of Gud Bahri (Wuqro, Tigray). In: Annales d'Ethiopie. Volume 33, année 2020. pp. 167-187.