Charcoal-roasted plantain and fish vendors in Port Harcourt: A potential anaesthetic high risk group?

Abstract

A survey of charcoal-roasted plantain and fish (CRPF) vendors in Port Harcourt, Nigeria was carried out to determine if they were a potential anaesthetic high risk group. Questionnaires which contained vendor's biodata and educational qualification including information on hours of exposure as well as number of years in the business and respiratory symptoms if present were filled by the authors in the presence of the vendors. Oxygen saturation and heart rate were recorded using the Nonnin 9250 portable battery-operated oximeter. Results were programmed into Microsoft EXCEL work sheet and data analysed.