33rd Batch - Faculty of Medicine, Jaffna, Sri Lanka

BIOCHEMICAL ALTERATIONS IN LIVER FUNCTION AND ASSOCIATED RISK FACTORS IN SPRAY PAINTERS IN JAFFNA

Alteration in Haemoglobin, Bilirubin and Serum ALT Level in Spray Painters in Jaffna

A REPORT ON RESEARCH PROJECT FOR THE FIRST EXAMINATION IN MEDICAL DEGREES

By               :- J.Sanjeyan

Supervisors:-Prof. (Ms).V. Arasaratnam, Dr. S. Balakumar, Dr. T. Kumanan & Dr. (Ms.) J. Pradeepan

Abstract

There is evidence that the spray paints have some cascade effect on Liver function of Spray painters. This project was carried out to study the effect of spray paints on Liver function of Spray painters through comparing the different parameters such Serum Alanine transaminase (ALT), Haemoglobin Level and Serum Bilirubin of Spray painters with the Control group. For this research project 30 Professional painters had been selected randomly Among total population of 39 spray painters who were regularly exposed to spray paints more than 1 year in Jaffna district except islands in the period of August/September 2011. Control group, which's studied in this project showed that the mean(SD) for the Haemoglobin Level 15.19(±1.04) g/dl, Unconjucated bilirubin 6.05(±5.6) µmol/l, Conjucated bilirubin 10.71(±4.52) µmol/l, Serum total bilirubin16.76(±6.35) µmol/l and Serum Alanine transaminase (ALT) 17.92(±9.45) IU. However our studies on Spray painters showed that the mean(SD) for the Haemoglobin Level 14.30(±1.11) g/dl, Serum Unconjucated bilirubin 14.72(±13.28) µmol/l, Conjucated bilirubin 10.1( ±8.61) µmol/l, total bilirubin 24.82(±15.8) µmol/l and Serum Alanine transaminase (ALT) 12.59(±9.59) IU. High prevalence rate of reduction in liver function was observed among the workers as compared to control group which might be due to lack of health education. These ill effects are due to lack of safety measures, poor hygiene and lack of basic health awareness. Impairing of liver function among spray painters can be reduced by arranging health awareness programs.