Hepatotoxic and Nephrotoxic Effects of Petroleum Fumes on Petrol Attendants in Ibadan, Nigeria

The present study was conducted to evaluate the hepatotoxic and nephrotoxic effects of petroleum fumes on male and female petrol attendants. Investigations had been carried out on thirty (30) adult petrol attendants from different filling stations in Ibadan metropolis of Nigeria with ten (10) healthy adults as control. All the subjects involved in this study were between the ages of 27-35 years. The subjects were grouped according to the duration of time they had worked in the filling station. Serum aspartate amino transferase (AST), alanine amino transferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activities and total bilirubin concentration were determined to evaluate hepatotoxicity. Kidney function tests were also evaluated using serum creatinine, total protein and urea level. Electrolytes (potassium, chloride and sodium ions) leakages into the serum were also evaluated. The results reveal that serum AST, ALT, ALP activities and total bilirubin concentration in the petrol attendants were significantly (P<0.05) higher compared with the control. The petrol attendants that have spent 27-36 months in the petrol station show significant (P<0.05) increase in AST, ALT, ALP activities and total bilirubin concentration compared with other petrol attendants that have spent lesser duration in the filling station. The kidney function test reveals that petrol attendants show significant (P<0.05) increase in creatinine, total protein and urea level compared with the control. Petrol attendanst show significant (P<0.05) increase in serum potassium, chloride and sodium ion concentrations compared with the control group. The study suggests that long term inhalation of petrol fumes is associated with adverse effect on the kidney and liver function.  Keywords: Liver; Kidney: Petroleum fume: Petroleum attendants; Electrolyte

Spectrophotometic Determination of Caffeine and Vitamin B6 in Selected Beverages, Energy/Soft Drinks and Herbal Products

In this study, a simple, sensitive and reproducible spectrophotometric technique has been developed and validated for the determination of caffeine and vitamin B6 in beverages, energy/soft drinks and herbal products. The determination of caffeine and vitamin B6 in the respective samples were carried out at maximum (λmax) absorbance of 272 and 290 nm respectively. The method was validated in terms of linearity, sensitivity (limit of Detection (LOD) and limit of Quantification (LOQ), accuracy (% Recovery), precision (relative standard deviation). The method was linear from (4-20 µg/ml and 50 - 250 µg/ml with r 2 of 0.9991 and 0.9996 for vitamin B6 and caffeine respectively. The accuracy of the method ranged from 99.48 - 101.42% for caffeine and 99.94% - 102.35% for vitamin B6. The detection limit and quantification limit were 0.192 µg/ml and 0.640 µg/ml for vitamin B6 while 0.0155 µg/ml and 0.0518 µg/ml was obtained for caffeine. The method for the two analytes was found to be precise as the percentage relative standard deviation was below 5%. Therefore, the method proposed in this study is rapid, suitable and can be used as a quality control index for caffeine and vitamin B6 in beverages, energy/soft drinks and herbal products in industries. Keywords: Caffeine, Vitamin B6, Beverages, Energy/Soft drinks, Herbal products, Spectrophotometr

Occurrence, source apportionment, and ecological risk assessment of organophosphate esters in surface sediment from the Ogun and Osun Rivers, Southwest Nigeria

Organophosphate esters (OPEs) are synthetic chemicals widely used as e.g., flame retardants and plasticisers in various consumer products. Due to the toxicity of OPEs in aquatic ecosystems, exposure of fauna and flora to these compounds is of potential concern. In this study, the concentrations, profiles, sources, and ecological risk of eight OPEs were investigated in the sediments from the two major rivers in southwest Nigeria. Concentrations of ∑OPEs in surface sediments were in the range 13.1 - 2110 ng/g dry weight (dw) (median: 378 ng/g dw) in the Ogun River and 24.7-589 ng/g dw (median: 174 ng/g dw) in the Osun River. These concentrations are broadly within the range of those reported in surface sediment in previous studies conducted in other locations around the world. Tris (2-butoxyethyl) phosphate (TBOEP) was the dominant OPE in the sediment samples with a median concentration of 337 and 126 ng/g dw for the Ogun and Osun Rivers respectively, while tri-n-butyl phosphate (TnBP) was not detected in any sample. Excluding TBOEP, the chlorinated organophosphate esters: tris(2-chloroethyl) phosphate (TCEP), tris(2-chloro-propyl) phosphate (TCIPP), and tris(1,3-dichloro-2-propyl) phosphate (TDCIPP) were the dominant OPEs in the Osun River, while the aryl-OPEs: triphenyl phosphate (TPHP), 2-ethylhexyl diphenyl phosphate (EHDPP), and tri-m-tolyl phosphate (TMTP) were dominant in the Ogun River. Under a median exposure scenario, moderate ecological risk was predicted from exposure to TCIPP in the Osun River. In contrast, under a high exposure scenario, concentrations of TDCIPP (risk quotient, RQ = 5.33-5.37) constituted a high ecological risk in both rivers, with moderate risks observed for TBOEP (RQ = 0.022-0.18) and TCIPP (RQ = 0.097 - 0.16). Therefore, the risk to aquatic organisms from concomitant exposure to mixtures of OPEs in freshwater ecosystems requires further investigation.</p

Occurrence, source apportionment, and ecological risk assessment of organophosphate esters in surface sediment from the Ogun and Osun Rivers, Southwest Nigeria

Organophosphate esters (OPEs) are synthetic chemicals widely used as e.g., flame retardants and plasticisers in various consumer products. Due to the toxicity of OPEs in aquatic ecosystems, exposure of fauna and flora to these compounds is of potential concern. In this study, the concentrations, profiles, sources, and ecological risk of eight OPEs were investigated in the sediments from the two major rivers in southwest Nigeria. Concentrations of ∑OPEs in surface sediments were in the range 13.1 - 2110 ng/g dry weight (dw) (median: 378 ng/g dw) in the Ogun River and 24.7-589 ng/g dw (median: 174 ng/g dw) in the Osun River. These concentrations are broadly within the range of those reported in surface sediment in previous studies conducted in other locations around the world. Tris (2-butoxyethyl) phosphate (TBOEP) was the dominant OPE in the sediment samples with a median concentration of 337 and 126 ng/g dw for the Ogun and Osun Rivers respectively, while tri-n-butyl phosphate (TnBP) was not detected in any sample. Excluding TBOEP, the chlorinated organophosphate esters: tris(2-chloroethyl) phosphate (TCEP), tris(2-chloro-propyl) phosphate (TCIPP), and tris(1,3-dichloro-2-propyl) phosphate (TDCIPP) were the dominant OPEs in the Osun River, while the aryl-OPEs: triphenyl phosphate (TPHP), 2-ethylhexyl diphenyl phosphate (EHDPP), and tri-m-tolyl phosphate (TMTP) were dominant in the Ogun River. Under a median exposure scenario, moderate ecological risk was predicted from exposure to TCIPP in the Osun River. In contrast, under a high exposure scenario, concentrations of TDCIPP (risk quotient, RQ = 5.33-5.37) constituted a high ecological risk in both rivers, with moderate risks observed for TBOEP (RQ = 0.022-0.18) and TCIPP (RQ = 0.097 - 0.16). Therefore, the risk to aquatic organisms from concomitant exposure to mixtures of OPEs in freshwater ecosystems requires further investigation.</p

Parainfluenza virus infection associated with posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome: a case report

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome is a clinical and radiological entity. The most accepted theory of posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome is a loss of autoregulation in cerebral blood flow with a subsequent increase in vascular permeability and leakage of blood plasma and erythrocytes, producing vasogenic edema. In infection-associated posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome, a clinical pattern consistent with systemic inflammatory response syndrome develops. Parainfluenza virus has not been reported in the medical literature to be associated with posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>We report herein the case of a 54-year-old Caucasian woman with posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome associated with parainfluenza virus infection who presented with generalized headache, blurring of vision, new-onset seizure and flu-like symptoms.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Infection-associated posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome as well as hypertension-associated posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome favor the contribution of endothelial dysfunction to the pathophysiology of this clinicoradiological syndrome. In view of the reversible nature of this clinical entity, it is important that all physicians are well aware of posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome in patients presenting with headache and seizure activity. A detailed clinical assessment leading to the recognition of precipitant factors in posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome is paramount.</p