This study aimed to assess the effect of automobile machine oil products on blood indices and liver function of automobile-repairing mechanics with a focus on the age differences, ≥ 18 years old and < 18 years of old in Kabul city of Afghanistan. Child labor is a certain issue in Afghanistan. More than 1 million Afghan children are engaged in labor (Aljazeera, 2022). Children even less than 10 years of age are working in automobile-repairing workshops without any occupational safety. Our study shows that automobile machine oil products have more adverse effects on the blood indices of children than adults.
In contrast to findings from other nations including Nigeria, Ghana, and India, only MCV was significantly lower in the adults exposed group compared to the control group in our study; the rest of the blood indices were not statistically different. According to their findings, there are a number of hematological indicators that significantly differ between the control and exposed groups. In their research, the exposed group's hematological parameters including HCT, Hb, WBC, RBC, and PLT were lower than those of the control group (Adu, et al., 2018; Aleemuddin, Babu, Manjunath, & Quadri, 2015; Okoro, Ani, & Akpogomeh, 2006; Ukaejiofo, Nubila, & Ike, 2006). At the same time, another study conducted in Nigeria revealed that PCV, Hb, and neutrophil significantly increased in the exposed group compared to the control group (Omorowa, et al., 2015).
Exposure to low levels of benzene has controversial results. Studies show that exposure to low benzene vapors concentration even < 1ppm leads to a decrease of leukocytes, especially effect on progenitor cells (Lan, et al., 2004) and another study reported that occupational exposure to benzene concentration less than 5ppm causes a decrease of all types of blood cells (Qu, et al., 2002). However, some other studies reported no decrease in blood cells in case of occupational exposure to the low concentration of benzene (Tsai, et al., 2004; James, Ireland, Easterday, Nair, & Braun, 1997; James, et al., 1991).
In the case of children in our study, most of the blood indices are significantly different between exposed and control groups. No study on automobile-repairing workshop child workers has been previously reported.
In our study, less effect of occupational exposure to automobile-machine oil products on blood indices of adults might be attributable to a variety of variables. We discovered that practically all mechanics worked outside, rather than in garages or other enclosed spaces in Kabul city. Close doors and inadequate ventilation raise the benzene levels within the garage (Nordlinder & Ramnas, 1987). Even inside autos, benzene levels are greater than outdoors. Most children's leukemia is thought to be caused by greater benzene concentrations inside autos (Menkes & Fawcett, 1997). Temperature, on the other hand, has a direct effect on gasoline vapor concentration. As a result, gasoline vapors are higher in the summer than in the winter (Page & Mehlman, 1989). The weather in Afghanistan is not warm for around 6 months of the year. As a result, fewer gasoline vapors may be produced. In this sense, studies in warmer countries such as Nigeria, India, Ghana, and Iraq show more differences in blood indices among exposed and control groups
In our study through a questionnaire, we discovered that the majority of automotive-repairing workers consumed more fruits and vegetables, and less meat. They were not taking booze, narcotics, or cigarettes; instead, three adult mechanics were occasionally amusingly smoking marijuana. This might reduce the negative effects of benzene products since studies have indicated that benzene levels are greater in the blood of smokers in automotive-repairing workshops (Kamal & Rashid, 2014), and hematological changes are significantly associated with smoking habit in fuel-filling station personnel (Sahb, 2011).
In recent years, there has been increased interest in predicting the prognosis of diseases with simple blood tests associated with systemic inflammation (Lee, Kim, Na, Youn, & Shin, 2018). In our study, these metrics (Neut/Lym and PLT/Lym ratios) did not change significantly between adults exposed and control groups, however, the Neut/Lym ratio was much lower in the children exposed group, indicating that workers do not have symptoms of the systemic inflammation or malignancy. Lymphocytes are much greater in the adults-exposed group than in the control group; however, whether or not this is related to Micronucleus lymphocytes has not been explored in our study. Previous research has found that micronucleus lymphocyte levels are higher in people who are occupationally exposing benzene than the control people (Zhang, 1996). An increase in micronucleus lymphocytes is a predictor of cancer risk which shows chromosomal damage (Bonassi, et al., 2007).
The adults exposed group have a significantly lower albumin and albumin-globulin ratio and higher globulin level than the control group. Other liver parameters are not significantly different, however, ALT, ALP, and GGT are non-significantly higher in the exposed groups than in the control group. Albumin is a negative-phase reactant protein that decreases due to infection, and globulin is increased. Albumin levels also decrease due to insufficient blood supply to the liver, and in an early stage of liver cirrhosis globulin level is increased which compensates for total protein while albumin level is decreased (Bioshop, Fody, & Shoeff, 2010). Khan et al. found that ALT is significantly increased (Khan, Inam, Idrees, Gul, & Haji, 2010), while other study shows decreased levels of ALT, AST, and ALP in exposed groups (Omorowa, et al., 2015). Our studies in the case of adults show similarities with Hegazy & Kamel while it is opposite to the Pool & Osorio findings (Hegazy & Kamel, 2014; Pool & Osorio, 2001). In the case of children, we also found only albumin and AST are significantly lower in the exposed group than in the control group.
There is no official data about the composition of the fuel imported into Afghanistan, whether lead is added as an anti-knocking agent or not. By the way, Ibeh et al found higher blood lead levels in automobile-repairing mechanics than in the control group. MCV, MCH, and MCHC were negatively correlated with blood lead level (Ibeh et al., 2016). Chronic exposure to lead at levels < 50 µg/dL causes a decrease of MCV and HCT in the lead-exposed group in comparison to the control group, while RBC count and hemoglobin do not alter. Lead may inhibit ALAD (Aminolevulinic Acid Dehydrogenase) enzyme but with up to 80–90% inhibition of ALAD enzyme, hemoglobin concentration is not affected. MPV and MCHC is increased, proportions of different types of leukocytes are altered but the number of WBC and PLT are not changed (Chwalba, et al., 2018).Automobile-repairing mechanics also expose to spent oils which contains heavy metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (Omorowa, et al., 2015).
This is the first study on the population of Afghan mechanics, and the first study in its kind on children labor in automobile-repairing workshops. The finding of this study has to be seen in the light of some limitations. The sample size is small, and the sampling method was not random.