Haematological Profile in the Oil Producing Localities of Imo State, South-East, Nigeria

Aim: To determine if oil exploration and production in Ohaji/Egbema and Oguta LGAs have resulted in carcinogenic effects for a specific lifetime from exposures since our secondary data have shown a high percentage of cancer cases from the two LGAs.

Study Design: This was a comparative study aimed at determining whether oil exploration and production in the selected LGAs had resulted in carcinogenic effects for a specific lifetime.

Place and Duration of Study: Ohaji/Egbema, Oguta, Mbaitoli and Onuimo LGAs, Imo State, Nigeria, between June 2014 and August 2018.

Methodology: Haematological estimations were carried out at Silver Press Laboratory, Owerri, Nigeria. The Neubauer counting chamber was used in red blood cell count after the addition of red blood cell diluting fluid. The Neubauer counting chamber was used in white blood cell count after the addition of Turk solution. The platelet was also counted using the Neubauer counting chamber. The differential white blood cells were counted manually after smearing the Leishman’s stained drop of blood onto a glass slide. Olympus CX21FS1 Binocular Microscope was used to examine all blood samples.

Results: The oil-producing LGAs recorded 89% clinically diagnosed leukaemic cases while the non-oil producing LGAs recorded 11% and all results correlated strongly (r = 0.997) with the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu Cancer Registry data.

Conclusion: Overall results have indicated a high level of contamination and exposure in the oil-producing localities.