Scholars International Journal of Anatomy and Physiology (SIJAP)
Volume-8 | Issue-06 | 106-113
Original Research Article
Evaluation of Some Biochemical Stress Markers and Atherogenic Lipid Profile Changes in Automobile Artisans in Port Harcourt
Tamuno-opubo A, Warri A. F, Amah-Tariah F.S
Published : Nov. 14, 2025
Abstract
Unsafe working conditions, lack of safety awareness and obvious restricted access to protective gears make artisanal workers highly vulnerable to different forms of occupational risks. Thus, the present study set out to evaluate some biochemical stress markers and atherogenic profile changes in automobile artisans in Port Harcourt. The study adopted a cross-sectional approach to survey automobile repair workers or auto-artisan in various workshops located in Port-Harcourt Metropolis. The purposive and snowball sample size determination tools to recruit the study participants. Eventually, a sample of 60 automobile repair artisans (Automobile Artisans) and 40 control individuals (Non-Automobile Artisans) totaling 100 participants were recruited for the study. Upon ethical approvals and consent issuance by the study participants, blood samples were obtained from the antecubital vessel by phlebotomists, using standard procedures. Quantitative data got from the study were subjected to statistical screening using version 25.0 of the IBM Statistical Product and Service Solutions (SPSS) programme. Statistical significance were determined using one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by post-Hoc LSD multiple comparison test. The result of the study showed that the automobile artisans’ job naturally selected people mainly within their thirties to their forties of age and that the job may not exert adverse effects on the BMI status of the workers as their was only marginal difference in their mean BMI from that of the non-automobile artisans. On the lipid profile examination, there was generally significant (p<0.05) elevation of TG and reduction in HDL-C levels in artisans compared to those of non-artisan subjects. The atherogenic indices indicated significant (p<0.05) increases in atherogenic coefficient (AC) and Castelli risk index-1 (CRI-1). The levels of GSH, GPx, CAT and SOD were seen to be significantly (p<0.05) depressed in virtually all auto-workers when compared to that of the non-artisans (control group). The frequent use of personal protective equipment (PPE) and timely/good health seeking behaviours amongst the automobile artisans are recommended.