Oduola Taofeeq^1,, Raheem Gassal Olayinka², Oke Olusegun Taiwo³, Adeosun Oyebola Ganiyu⁴, Dallatu Mohammed Kabiru¹, Mainasara Abdullahi Suleiman⁵

BACKGROUND: Exposure to different organic solvents have been reported to cause adverse effects on the functional integrity of different tissues in the biological systems.Vehicle spray painters are a group of artisan that could be occupationally exposed to health risk due to the constituents of materials used in spray painting, hence this study was designed to examine the effects of exposure to these solvents on liver, kidney and bone marrow function in this artisan in Ile-Ife, Nigeria. METHODS: A total of 75 Nigerian male vehicle spray painters with age range 28 – 59 years (X 47.5) were recruited for the study. They were classified into 5 groups based on duration of exposure with 15 in each group. Another group of 15 people of different professions of the same age and gender who were not exposed were recruited as control. Blood samples were collected, liver, kidney and bone marrow function parameters were determined using standard techniques. RESULT: Values obtained for total bilirubin (TB), conjugated bilirubin (CB), alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartate transaminase (AST) were significantly higher (P<0.05) in the exposed groups than the control groups, however, the values were within the reference range. There was no significant difference (P>0.05) in all other liver function parameters between the exposed painter and non-exposed control. Kidney function profiles showed no significant difference (P>0.05) between the exposed painters and non-exposed control. Haematological profiles revealed no significant difference (P>0.05) in packed cell volume (PCV) between the exposed painters and non-exposed control, total white blood cell count (WBC) was significantly lower(P<0.05) in exposed painters than in non-exposed control. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, the findings of this study neither reveal hepatotoxicity, nephrotoxicity nor haematotoxicity. Although we observed slight elevations and slight decrease in some of the liver function profiles and WBC respectively among the exposed painters when compared to non-exposed control, the values were within the reference range. Since these painters are constantly exposed to organic solvents from paints and because of adverse effects it may cause on their health without knowing when it may happen, it is important they do period medical check-up.

organic solvent, hepatotoxicity, nephrotoxicity, haematotoxicity, vehicle spray painter