Effect of Exposure to Soot on Activities of Alanine Transaminase, Gamma Glutamyl Transferase and Lipase among Cooks in Nnewi

Exposure to soot can lead to hepatic and pancreatic dysfunction. This study determined serum alanine transaminase (ALT), gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), and triacylglycerol lipase activities of cooks exposed to soot. Thirty (30) participants (cooks) were exposed to soot (test group), and thirty (30) participants not exposed to soot (control group) were recruited. Ethical approval was obtained from the Ethics committee of the Faculty of Health Sciences and Technology, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, and informed consent from the participants was obtained. Alanine transaminase, gamma-glutamyl transferase, and triacylglycerol lipase activities were determined using the spectrophotometric method while the Body mass index (BMI) was calculated using weight (kg)/height2 (m2). An Independent t-test was used for statistical analysis. The results showed that the mean serum activities of alanine transaminase (14.69±1.84), of cooks exposed to soot, were significantly higher compared with the control(12.83±0.94)(p