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RESEARCH ARTICLE
ASSESSMENT OF RENAL AND LIVER PROFILE AMONG LIQUEFIED PETROLEUM GAS PLANT
WORKERS
1*
Obodo, B.N.,
2
Iroro, A.P.,
1
Iyevhobu, K.O.,
3
Ebaluegbeifoh, L.O.,
4
Okobi, T.J.,
1
Alleh, O.A.,
1
Idaghe
F.A.,
1
Omolumen, L.E. and
5
Uhomoibhi, O.T.
1
Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Edo State
2
Department of Medical Laboratory Science, University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin, Edo State
3
Luli Medical Diagnostic and Research Laboratories
4
Georgetown University Washington D.C
5
University of the District of Columbia
ARTICLE INFO ABSTRACT
Background: Liqu efied petroleum gas (LPG) h as been used extensively for h eating , cooking and as a
fuel in vehicles and generators. This study was design ed to evaluate renal and liver pro fil e of LPG
plant wo rkers in Benin City, Edo State. Methods: A tot al of on e hundred (100) subjects between 2 0-
60 years wer e recruited for this study which consist 50 liqu efied gas plant workers and 50 subj ects
who do not work in LPG pl ant stations (controls). Blood samples (10ml) were coll ected from the
cubital vein of each subject with th e aid of syringe and needle into plain plastic containers. The renal
and biochemical parameter were analyzed using st andard laboratory procedures. Res ults: The results
obtained in this study show that sodium and creatinine lev els of liquefied petroleum gas plant workers
were significantly higher (p<0.05) when compared with the respectiv e controls. There was no
significant difference when the serum levels of po tassium and urea were compared with th e respective
controls. There was significant di fference (p<0.05) wh en AST, ALT, A LP, and GGT valu es were
compared with their control. The creatinine levels wer e significantly higher (p<0.05) within the age
group 41-50 years and 51-60 years. There was no signi ficant difference (p<0.05 ) in th e sodium,
potassium and urea levels in the v arious age groups . There was no significant d ifference wh en AST,
ALT, ALP and GGT were compared within the various age groups . Co nclusion: The results of this
study however show ed that exposure to LPG resulted in significan t renal and liver profile alterations.
Copyright © 2020, Obodo et a l. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use,
distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
INTRODUCTION
Over the y ears, it has been reported that about 3.2 billion
people constantly m ake us e o f coal and biomass fuels such as
wood, dung and crop residues in order to meet their basic
energy needs (Eva et al., 2017). Liquefied petroleum gas
(LPG) has been used extensively for heating, cooking and as a
fu el in vehicles and gen erators. LPG could be re ferred to as
auto-gas, propane and but ane depending on where it is been
used (Eva et al., 2017). It emits less greenhouse gas emissions
and as such is referred to as a green fuel. It does not contain
lead and sulphur, it is odorless and a non-renewable source o f
energy (Fukunag a, 2015). Also, it is extracted from crud e oil
and natural gas and it is constituted by hydrocarbons
containing three or fou r carbon atoms.
*Correspo nding author: Obodo, B .N.,
Department of Medical L aboratory Science, Ambro se Alli Univ ersity,
Ekpoma, Edo St ate.
The normal components of LPG are propane (C3H8) and
butane (C4H10), although concentrations of oth er
hydrocarbons may be present. LPGs can be liquefied wh en
pressure is applied at norm al temperatures and at atmospheric
pressure; it is a g as (World H ealth Organization, 2017). There
have been reports on the health challenges accrued to the use
of wood and kerosene, which th erefore resulted i n an increase
in the use and sales of LPGs with little information on the
effects o f its exposure to humans (International Energy
Agency, 2016). Solid fuels sti ll remain significant in
residential energy use in less developed count ries despite the
tremendous efforts fuels mad e in impacting economic
development (International Energy Agency, 2016). Shifting
from the use o f solid fuels to m odern forms o f en ergy resulted
in the use o f kerosene and LPG, natural gas, electri city and
biogas and has considerably improved access to modern
commercial energy in the developing n ations (International
Energy Agency, 2016; World Liquefied Petrol eum Gas
Association, 2017).
ISSN: 0975-833X
International Journal of Current Research
Vol. 12, Issue, 07, pp.12929-12932, July, 2020
DOI: https://doi.org/10.24941/ijcr.39281.07.2020
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL
OF CURRENT RESEARCH
Article History:
Receive d xxxxx, 2020
Receive d in revised form
xxxxxx, 2020
Accepted xxxxx, 2020
Published online xxxxx, 2020
Citation: Obodo, B.N., Iroro, A.P., Iyevhobu, K.O., Ebaluegbeifoh, L.O., Okobi, T.J., Alleh, O.A., Idaghe F.A., Omolumen, L.E., Uhomoibhi, O.T. 2020.
“Assessment of renal and liver profile am ong liquef ied petroleum gas plant workers”, International Journal of Current Research, 12, (07), 12929-12932.
Available online at http://www.jo urnalcra.com
Article History:
Receive d 07
th
April, 2020
Receive d in revised form
25
th
May , 2020
Accepted 21
st
June, 2020
Published online 30
th
July, 2020
Key Words:
Liquefied pe troleum gas, Rena l,
Liver, Health,
Alterations.
The use of LPGs rep resents th e transition into the use o f
modern fu els which automatically replaces th e use of
traditional fu els (Kojima, 2011). LPG is regarded as the m ajor
fu el for r esidential cooking in areas not accessible to natural
gas and however could be the fuel o f choice for many
household even when natural gas is available (Fukunaga, 2015;
World Liquefied Petrol eum Gas Association, 2017). T he
availability and use o f LPG is dependent on t h e income, price
availability, reliability of supply, prices o f other fuels,
acquisition costs o f LPG cylinders and stoves, fears about
safety, unfamiliarity with cooking with LP Gas, lack of
knowledge about the harm caused by smoke from solid fuels
burned in traditional stoves and cultural preferences (Kojima,
2011). LP G as m any would suggest has played a positive role
in providing sustainable environmental challenges to the
problem related to the scarcity of wood as fuel in households
(Fukunaga, 2015). However, there is growing concern ov er the
use of LPG among indivi duals who constantly inhale this
substance with a reported signi ficant higher dise ase burden
(Sugie, 2014). T his concern there fore sets this research in
motion to investigate the effects of LPG on renal and liver
profile of LP G plant workers.
MATERILA AND METHODS
Research Protocol: A comparative cross-sectional study was
conducted on LPG plant workers in Benin City, Edo State,
Nigeria, from August 1, to December 31, 2019 in which
workers exposed to LPG w ere compared with those that are
not exposed to LPG (controls). T he LPG g as plant workers
were all males who work b etween 8am to 2pm and from 2pm-
8pm daily. T he LPG plant workers were interviewed and blood
samples were collected twice d aily in the Manag er’s offi ce at
12pm and 4pm daily when there were high chances of m inimal
work load. The control groups were inte rviewed, examined
with no underlying and visible symptoms of any ailment
before collection o f blood samples. Also questionnaires were
used to collect the in form ation on age and general health
status.
Study Popu lation: A total of one hundred (100) subjects
between 20-60 years were recruited for this study which
consist of fi fty (50) g as plant workers and fi fty (50) non LPG
plant workers which served as the control.
Inclusion and Exclusion Criteria: Apparently h ealthy LPG
plant workers and controls with no underlying illness or
symptoms were recruited for this study. S ubjects who are not
within 20-60 years, and have underlying ill ness or symptoms
were ex cluded from this study.
Ethical Approval: Ethical approval was obtained from the
University Research and Ethics Committee. Also, informed
consent was also obtained from the subjects after explaining
the purpose of t he study to them.
Sample Collection: Blood samples (10ml) were collected
from the cubital vein o f each subje ct with the aid o f syringe
and needle into plain plastic containers. T he blood sample in
the plain containers was centrifug ed at 3000rpm for 10 minut es
and serum immediately separated from the cells into plain
containers with labels corresponding to initial blood sample
bottle. The s erum samples were stored frozen at -70
o
C until the
time for analysis.
Sample Analysis: T he samples obtained from the LPG plant
workers and cont rols was analyzed fo r activities of liver
enzymes (aspartate aminotransferas e (AST ), alanine
aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and
gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT) and r enal function
(creatinine, urea, potassium and sodium) (Reitman, 1957;
Fabiny, 1971; Rec, 1972).The sera obtained were used to
estimate AST , ALT, ALP, GGT, creatinine, urea, sodium and
potassium using commercially available r eagent kits, standard
protocols and equipments.
Statistical Analysis: T he results obtained in this study were
analyzed statist ically and the mean and standard deviation
values cal culated in each case. The Student t-test and Analysis
of Variance (ANOVA) statist ical methods wer e employed for
comparison using a computer programme (SPSS) for window
release 21.0. A p- value equal or l ess than 0.05 (P≤0.05) were
considered s tatistically significant at 95% con fidence level.
RESULTS
The results obtained in this study show that sodium (144.66 ±
5.60 mmol /l) and creatinine (0.71± 0.17 mg/dl) levels o f
liquefi ed petroleum gas plant workers were signi ficantly
higher (p<0.05) when compared with the respe ctive control
(141.76 ± 5. 60 mmol/l) and (0.64 ± 0. 20mg/dl ). There was no
significant di fference wh en the s erum l evels o f potassium and
urea were compared with the respective controls (Table 1). The
results obtained showed that there was significant di fference
(p<0.05) when AST (12.76 ± 4.22 U/L), A LT (6.48 ± 3.34
U/L), ALP, (30.40 ± 7.71 U/L) and GGT (96.03 ± 73.74 U/L)
values were compared with the respective control, (7.00 ± 3.18
U/L), (4.72 ± 2.46 U/L), (23.58 ± 7.61 U/L) and (49.89 ±
38.51 U/L) (Table 2).
The result s showed that serum sodium, potassium and urea
were not statistically signi fi cant ((p>0.05) within the age
groups while the serum lev els of creatinine were statistically
significant (p<0.05) within the age groups o f 41-50 ye ars and
51-60 years (Table 3). The results also showed t hat there was
no significant difference when AST, ALT, ALP and GGT were
compared within the various age groups. Howev er, AST and
GGT levels were higher in the age group 20 -30 ye ars. ALT
values were higher in the age group 31-40 years while ALP
values were found t o be higher with the age group 51-60 years
(Table 4).
DISCUSSION
LPG having being regarded as a mixture o f hydrocarbon gases
used as fuel in vehicles and cooking appliances in homes
(Prasad et al., 2017). T here has not been much serious health
issues reported with the use and abuse o f LPG, however, there
is high risk involved in workers who majorly d eal with
packaging and fill ing large quantities o f LPGs. Hence this
study was carried out to determine the effects o f LPG on LPG
plant workers by considering basic biochemical param eters.
This study showed that sodium and creatinine levels were
significantly higher in LPG plant workers, while the level of
potassium and urea were not significantly different, though the
values tend to vary in LPG plant workers when compared with
the controls. This observation is in line with the work of Sirdah
et al., (2013) where a similar trend of result was reported.
12930 Obodo et al. Assessment of renal and liver profile among liquefied pe troleum gas plant workers
On the contrary, this obse rvation is not in agreement with the
study of Viau (2012), who did not find significant effects on
kidney function m arkers o f r efine ry wo rkers who were
occupationally expos ed to hydrocarbons, the major component
of natu ral or LPG gas. When the population was separated into
age groups, the findings showed that in all age groups, the
mean values o f Sodium, potassium, urea and creatinine varied
across the age group. But however, there was signi fi cant
increas e in serum creatinine levels within the age group 41-50
years and 51-60 y ears. T hese obse rvations in serum sodium,
creatinine, urea and creatinine as r egards t he v ariations in the
age groups and years of exposure were consistent with the
findings o f Ezejio for et al., (2014).
The liver is involved in maintaining and regulating
homeostasis and further pl ays a vital role in biochemical
pathways ne cessary for growth and development (Ward,
1999). Hence, the maintenance of a h ealthy and functional
liver is vital for the overall wellbeing of an individual. This
study showed that the levels of AST , ALT, ALP and GGT
were signi ficantly highe r in LPG pl ant workers when
compared wit h the controls. T his observation is in line with the
work of Ezejio for et al., (2014) where a similar trend o f result
was obtained. Other reports showed that long-term exposure to
coke oven emissions increased the risk of liver dysfunction
(Hu, 2010), while Wu (2012) and Chen (2006) explored the
dose–response relationship between exposure to natural gas
emissions in coke oven workers and reported a signifi cant
elevation of some liver enzymes in these workers that may
have been related to their exposure to natural gas.
Abnormal liver functions with neurological symptoms were
reported in individuals who had accidental inhalation of natural
gas containing propane and butane (Pyatt, 1998). In addition,
there are reports on the hepatotoxic and nephrotoxic effect of
kerosene and p etrol contaminated diets in Wistar albino rats
(Patrick-Iwuanynwu, 2014) and this collaborates with the
findings in this study. When the population was separated into
age groups the findings showed that in all age groups, the
mean values of AST, ALT, ALP and GGT varied across the
age group. However, there was an increase in AST and GGT
levels within the age group 20-30 years, ALT within 31-40
years and ALP within 51-60 years. This corroborates the
reports o f M ayne (1998) and Balisteri and Sha w (1999).
Furthermore, the fact that there was consistently significant
increase in values o f liver enzymes cl early points to the
existence o f certain conditions among the LPG plant workers
that does not obtain among the non LPG plant wo rkers.
Marked inc rease o f the enzymes (10 to 100 times the upp er
limit of adult reference range) may be caused by circulatory
failure with ‘shock’ and hypoxia, myocardial infarction
(particularly for AST) and acute vir al or t oxic hep atitis, while
moderate i ncrease may be caused by Cirrhosis and– Malignant
infiltration o f the liver. GGT is an enzyme that trans fers
gamma-glutamyl functional groups. It is found in many tis sues,
the most notable one being the liver, and has signi ficance in
medicine as a diagnostic marker (Tate and Meister, 2005).
Hence the signific ant increase in GGT level clearly points to
the existence of liver dysfunction among LPG plant workers.
Table 1: Renal function of Liquef ied Petroleum G as Plant Workers with the controls
Parameters
Control (n=50)
Subjects (n=50)
t-value
P-value
Remark
Sodium (mm ol/l)
141.76±5.60
144.66±5.60
3.663
0.001
S
Potassium (mmol/l)
4.09±0.40
4.02±0.45
1.173
0.246
NS
Urea (mg/dl)
27.42±8.41
28.16±7.15
0.732
0.468
NS
Creatinine (mg/dl)
0.64±0.20
0.71±0.17
3.141
0.001
S
Key: n=Sample Size, S: Significant, NS: Not significa nt.
Table 2: Liver Function of Liquefied Petroleum G as Plant Workers with the Controls
Parameters (U /L)
Control (n=50)
Subjects (n=50)
t-value
P-value
Remark
AST
7.00±3.18
12.76±4.22
9.649
0.000
S
ALT
4.72±2.46
6.48±3.34
3.727
0.001
S
ALP
23.58±7.61
30.40±7.71
6.258
0.000
S
GGT
49.89±38.51
96.03±73.74
4.424
0.000
S
Key: n=Sample Size, S: Significant, NS: Not significant, AST: Aspartate amino transferase, ALT: Alanine amino transf erase, ALP: Alkaline
phosphatase, G GT: Gamma glutamy l transfera se.
Table 3: Age comparison of renal f unction of Liquefied Petrol eum Gas Plant Workers
Parameters
20-30yrs (n= 25)
31-40yrs (n= 17)
41-50yrs (n= 05)
51-60yrs (n= 03)
F-value
P-value
Sodium (mm ol/l)
145.04±6.07
a
143.18±5.05
a
149.00±4.06
a
142.67±3.79
a
1.625
0.196
Potassium (mmol/l)
3.93±0.43
a
4.14±0.50
a
4.12±0.44
a
3.87±0.12
a
0.972
0.414
Urea (mg/dl)
29.04±6.74
a
25.82±7.50
a
28.60±6.77
a
33.33±8.33
a
1.282
0.292
Creatinine (mg/dl)
0.66±0.11
a
0.70±0.18
a
0.94±0.15
b
0.83±0.23
ab
5.601
0.002
Key: Value s in a row with a different superscr ipt are significantly different at p<0.05; n=Sample Size, P<0.05: Signific ant, P >0.05: Not significa nt.
Table 4: Age comparison of liver functio n of Liquef ied Petroleum Gas Plant Workers
Parameters (U /L)
20-30yrs (n= 25)
31-40yrs (n= 17)
41-50yrs (n= 05)
51-60yrs (n= 03)
F-value
P-value
AST
13.44±3.71
a
13.06±4.62
a
8.80±2.77
b
12.00±6.25
ab
1.833
0.154
ALT
6.32±3.50
a
7.12±3.50
a
5.80±2.77
a
5.33±2.52
a
0.397
0.755
ALP
29.68±8.05
a
31.29±7.01
a
27.20±8.76
a
36.67±5.77
a
1.105
0.292
GGT
111.07±89.43
a
89.73±55.73
a
47.54±20.41
a
87.20±51.03
a
1.132
0.346
Key: Values in a row with a diffe rent super script ar e significantly diffe rent at p<0.05; n=Sample Size, P<0.05: Significant, P>0.05: Not significant, AST:
Asparta te amino transferase, ALT: Alanine amino transferase, ALP: Alkaline phosphatase , GGT: Gamma glutamyl transferase.
12931 Internatio nal Jou rnal of C urrent Research, Vol. 12, Issue, 07, pp.12929-12932, July, 2020
Acknowledge ments
Our special thanks to all the authors, who contributed to the
success o f this research and the pres entation of this manuscript
and to St Kenny C onsult for creating the enabling environment
and proof reading this manuscript.
Financial support and spon sorship: Nil.
Conflicts of Interest: T here are no con flicts of i nterest.
Key Points
This study revealed that there were significant increase in
the values o f sodium, creatinine, AST, ALT, ALP and
GGT among the LPG plant workers as compared to the
controls.
Age comparison of renal function of LPG plant workers
revealed signi ficant increase in the level o f serum
creatinine within the age 41-50 years and 51-60 years
while sodium, potassium, urea, AST, ALT, ALP and
GGT levels were not s ignificantly altered.
The results of this study however showed that exposure to
LPG resulted in significant alterations in renal and liver
fun ctions.
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12932 Obodo et al. Assessment of renal and liver profile among liquefied pe troleum gas plant workers
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