Evaluation of human allergen-specific immunoglobulin G, total immunoglobulin E, hematological parameters, and lung function in mill workers exposed to grain dust in South-East Nigeria

Background The incidence of allergy among mill workers has been a public health concern over the years. The human allergen-specific immunoglobulin G (IgG) and the total immunoglobulin E (IgE) are markers for allergic disorders and are important in health monitoring of individuals exposed to allergens. Nonadherence to health and safety precautions by grain workers has led to an increase in respiratory symptoms and other pathologies. Aim The aim is to assess human allergen-specific IgG and total IgE concentrations, hematological parameters, and lung functions in factory workers exposed to grain dust for effective health monitoring. Patients and methods A total of 69 patients were enrolled; 29 of them were controls whereas 40 were mill workers. Blood samples collected from the patients were analyzed using Mindray autoanalyzer for full blood count, whereas ELISA method was used for the estimation of human allergen-specific IgG and total IgE. The spirometric lung function test was evaluated using Micro 1 Spirometer. Results Lung function was significantly decreased compared with the control (P