Soot is known as unwanted by-products gotten from incomplete burning of materials that contain carbon. Soot is also known as black carbon (BC) or carbon blacks (CBs). It is capable of causing many health issues in both humans and animals. When illegal refining and burning activities are carried out, the end product is usually the production of soots. Cases of soot emissions rising in developing countries.  It is one cause of diseases in the human population; these diseases include respiratory diseases, cardiovascular diseases, cancers, and sometimes reproductive system abnormality. Rivers State is a highly populated State with lots of companies carrying out one form of refining and exploration or another. Two factors are responsible for the rising increase of soot in Rivers State, the burning of illegal petroleum product by security agencies and the operation of unlawful illegal refineries carried out from the creeks and surroundings of some local communities and Port Harcourt, the State headquarters. The aim of this review was to assess the effects soot has on the haematological parameters of individuals living in Rivers State. Soot has been shown by several studies to cause some deviation in the haematological parameters such as decrease in the PCV, Hb and RBC. However, it also brings about an increase in the total white blood cell count, neutrophils and lymphocytes. This review provides information on the haematological insults associated with soot exposure in Rivers State.

Cement dust exposures has been reported to result in significant occupational health problems and long term complications and symptoms. This study was aimed at assessing the impact of work hours on haematological parameters of cement workers. 100 cement loaders were selected in a simple random technique from cement site and depot in Port Harcourt who have worked for at least 3months. The subjects were divided into three groups based on work hours: Group 1 which comprised 27 subjects composed of subjects with 1-5 work hours; Group 2 which had 62 subjects were subjects with 6-10 works hours; Group 3 which had 11 subjects were subjects with more than 10 work hours. Blood collected in EDTA using venipuncture method was assayed for full blood count (FBC) using haematology analyzer and Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) using Westergreen method. The results were statistically compared among the groups for test of significance using ANOVA. ESR levels among the groups were not significant (p=0.9812). WBC levels among the groups were not significant (p=0.1289). RBC levels among the classes were statistically non-significant (p=0.1038). Hb level among the classes was statistically non-significant (p=0.3408). MCV level among the classes was not significant (p=0.6768). MCH level among the classes was not significant (p=0.7109). MCHC level among the classes was statistically non-significant (p=0.9776). PLT level among the classes was not significant (p=0.9776). MPV level among the classes was not significant (p=0.1759). Lymphocyte level among the classes was not significantly different (p=0.5882). Neutrophil level among the classes was not significantly different (p=0.2244). Eosinophil level among the classes was significantly different (p=0.0544). Basophil level among the classes was not significantly different (p=0.2213). Monocyte level among the classes was not significantly different (p=0.9977). This study has shown that working hours does not have any significant effect on haematological parameters among cement loaders in Port Harcourt.

The study was aimed at evaluating the effect of cement dust exposure on cement loaders in Port Harcourt. The study was a cross sectional study which used convenient sampling size of 100 healthy male cement workers recruited in one cement depot and eight cement loading sites in Port Harcourt using simple random technique. Subjects were classified into three groups based on daily hour cement exposure; group 1 (1-5 hrs), group 2 (6-10 hrs) and group 3 (>10 hrs). Group 1 had 27 subjects, group 2 had 62 subjects and group 3 had 11 subjects. 4 ml of the venous blood was drawn into plain vacutainer bottles for the evaluation of Neuron specific Enolase, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A, and Total Antioxidant Status. ELISA method was used for the laboratory determination of VEGF-A and NSE while a colorimetric method was used for TAS estimation. Results showed TAS level among the classes was not significantly different (p=0.3304) and has the mean value of 2.02±0.40; 2.16±0.41 and 2.1 ±0.41 in groups 1, 2 and 3 respectively. VEGF-A level among the classes was not significantly different (p=0.7123) with mean value of 406.00 ±234.80; 439.60 ±369.40 and 361.00 ±171.00 in groups 1, 2 and 3 respectively. The mean value for NSE level among the groups (1, 2, and 3) were 3.78±1.49; 4.17±2.91 and 3.42±0.98 but there was no significantly difference (p=0.5551). This has shown that hourly exposure to cement dust among healthy cement workers does not have significant impact on cancer markers (VEGF-A, NSE and TAS). A higher timeframe assessment may provide a better picture of the effect of cement dust exposure since many diseases associated with cement dust exposure are chronic.

Inhaling cement dust has been linked to changes in the health integrity of vulnerable groups. This study was focused at evaluating the impact of hourly exposure to cement dust on haemostatic markers in cement workers in Port Harcourt. One hundred subjected working at cement depot and sites were recruited for the study and were divided into three study groups based on hours of exposure to cement dust during work. Group 1 was 27 subjects with 1-5hourly exposure, Group 2 was 62 subjects with 6-10hourly exposure and the last group was Group 3 containing 11 subjects with over 10hours of exposure. Subjects were selected by convenient sampling technique. Blood samples were drawn using venipuncture method and samples were collected into trisodium citrate and plain bottles for PT, APTT, fibrinogen and Von Willebrand factor and D-dimer respectively. PT and APTT were assayed using manual methods but other studied parameters were assayed using ELISA. ANOVA result showed that the mean values of PT level among the classes were 15.58 ±2.11; 16.29 ±4.07 and 16.17 ±2.07 and were not significantly different (p=0.6775). Mean values for APTT level among the classes were 35.09 ±10.06; 32.62 ±9.61 and 33.00 ±12.74 but not significantly different (p=0.5695). VWF level among the classes were 69.62 ±36.89; 64.23 ±31.32 and 71.92 ±16.17 but not significantly different (p=0.6396). D-Dimer level among the classes were 496.60 ±490.00; 457.60 ±409.80 and 519.20 ±357.70 but statistically non-significant (p=0.8661). Fibrinogen level among the classes were 4.74 ±4.63; 5.33 ±4.67 and 6.53 ±6.09 but statistically not significant (p=0.6604). There was no significant difference in haemostatic markers levels among the groups (P-value>0.05). This study has shown that hourly exposure to cement dust does not have any key effect on haemostatic markers of cement workers in Port Harcourt.