Impact of occupational exposure to Municipal Solid Wastes, Saw-dust and Paint on Reproductive Hormones among Workers in Port Harcourt, Nigeria

Over the recent decades, there has been increasing global concern about exposure to work place chemicals and their impact on human health. This study is therefore aimed at assessing the impact of occupational exposure to municipal solid wastes, saw-dusts and paint, on the reproductive hormones levels among exposed workers in Port Harcourt, Nigeria. A cross-sectional analytical study was carried out on 157 apparently healthy male subjects comprising 45 unexposed (control), and 112 exposed (test) subjects. The test subjects consist of 37 workers involved in municipal solid waste disposal, 40 workers in saw-mill, and 35 in paint factory. Information on their anthropometric parameters and duration of exposure were obtained from subjects. 5ml of blood was collected from each subject by venipuncture, processed and serum used for assay of Luteinizing Hormone (LH), Oestrogen and Testosterone levels. The results showed a decrease in the mean level of luteinizing hormone (mlU/ml) among solid waste workers (p<0.05), saw-mill workers (p<0.05) and paint factory workers (p>0.05) when compared with the control subjects. Also, the serum oestrogen (pg/ml) decreased among solid waste workers (p>0.05), saw-mill workers (p<0.05) and paint workers (p<0.05), compared to control group subjects. Similarly, the serum levels of testosterone (ng/ml) decreased among solid waste workers (p<0.05), saw mill workers (p>0.05) and paint factory workers (p>0.05), when compared with control group subjects. The reductions in all the hormones in the test subjects were duration-of-exposure-dependent. This study shows that occupational exposure to municipal solid wastes, saw-dusts and paint decreases the serum levels of male reproductive hormones. This could negatively impacts on their reproductive functions.