TITLE:
Cardiovascular System Response to Chronic Exposure to Emissions from Gas Turbines Power Plants
AUTHORS:
C. D. Ekpruke, V. I. Iyawe
KEYWORDS:
Emissions, Heart Rate, Systolic Blood Pressure, Diastolic Blood Pressure, Gas Turbines
JOURNAL NAME:
World Journal of Cardiovascular Diseases,
Vol.10 No.4,
April
26,
2020
ABSTRACT: Objectives: Heart Rate and Blood Pressure have been reported to be susceptible to the effects of air pollution. Effect of emissions from gas turbine power station among workers is relatively unexplored. Therefore, this study aimed at assessing the effect of emissions from gas turbines on cardiovascular functions and C-reactive protein level in workers of power generating stations. Methodology: 440 individuals made up of 228 workers of gas-fired power plant stations and 212 non-power generating station workers volunteered for this study. A detailed questionnaire was carefully filled by volunteers and anthropometric data measured and recorded. Blood pressure, heart rate and C-reactive protein level (CRP) were measured using standard laboratory techniques in all subjects. Results were presented as Mean ± Standard Error of Mean (SEM) and appropriate analysis was done using Independent student’s t-test and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). P-value Results: Result showed increased systolic blood pressure (SBP), 142.45 ± 8.87 mmHg of test subjects compared to that of the control (P 0.05) which was 121.32 ± 2.25 mmHg. However, there was no statistically significant difference in the Diastolic Blood Pressure (DBP) of the test and control groups. The Pulse Rate (PR) increased significantly in the test group (89.00 ± 0.02 bpm) when compared to that of the control group (74.34 ± 1.23 bpm). There was also an elevated plasma level of CRP, 6.69 ± 0.03 mg/L in the test group compared to the control (P Conclusion: Exposure to gas emission from natural gas-fired power plants on workers of power generating stations increased SBP, PR and C-reactive Protein level.