Ann Med Physiol. 2017; 1 (1): 31-35 Quench Academy of Medical Education and Research Annals of Medical Physiology www.amphysiol.com Corresponding author Dr. Ayesha Farheen DOI: https://doi.org/10.23921/amp.2017v1i1.263312 Postgraduate student Print ISSN: XXXX-XXXX Department of Physiology, Deccan College of Medical Sciences, DMRL ‘X’ Road, Kanchanbagh, Hyderabad-500058, Telangana, India. Online ISSN: XXXX-XXXX Copyright © 2017. Quench Academy of Medical Education and Research (QAMER). Published by QAMER Publishing House. Phone: +91-9059335071 This is an open access article licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. Email: dr_ayeshafarheen@yahoo.com 31 Original Research Article Hematological parameters are acutely effected by cement dust exposure in construction workers Ayesha Farheen , Mohammed Abdul Hannan Hazari , Farisa Khatoon, Fareen Sultana, Sanam Maria Qudsiya Department of Physiology, Deccan College of Medical Sciences, Kanchanbagh, Hyderabad-500058, Telangana, India. Article history Abstract Received 05 April 2017 Accepted 07 April 2017 Early online 13 April 2017 Print 30 April 2017 Cement dust poses an occupational hazard causing respiratory (owing to its inhalation), dermatological, ocular and hematological problems. The purpose of the current study was to evaluate the effect of occupational exposure of cement dust on hematological parameters in construction workers. Apparently healthy sixty five (65) adult male construction workers aged 25-50 years participated in this study. Three (3.0) ml venous blood samples were collected from each participant for hematological analysis at two different time points, one at 8 AM and second at 4 PM at the end of work shift. Differences in means and test of significance were calculated using paired Student’s t-test. The results revealed that post shift samples showed statistically significant increase (p<0.05) in mean total leukocyte count (TLC), lymphocyte %, monocyte % and eosinophil % and statistically significant decrease (p<0.05) in mean hemoglobin, red blood cell (RBC) count, packed cell volume (PCV) and platelet count. The present study confirms that hematological parameters are significantly effected in construction workers which may be attributed to the work atmosphere predominated with cement dust. Keywords Cement dust exposure Hematological parameters Post shift Pre shift WBC count Introduction In today’s world, the progress and advancement of a country is measured in terms of its industrialization. The industrialization and urbanization has direct effect on the environment. The most prominent visual features of urbanization are buildings and infrastructure. 1 Activities such as manufacturing, production, processing, supply and utilization not only exhaust the natural resources but also add pressure to the environment by amassing wastes. 2,3 Construction of buildings, roads and other amenities are the major activities in urbanization. Chief hazardous constituent in building material is the cement dust, actively involved in causing air pollution and it poses an occupational hazard among construction workers. Cement is made from limestone, laterites, clay and gypsum; and its