Evaluation of toxicological implications of ingestion exposure to gasoline in mammals

Epidemiologic and experimental data suggest that exposure to petroleum hydrocarbon exert toxicities on variety of organs of living system such as the lungs, liver and kidney. Because increased LDL cholesterol, decreased HDL cholesterol and alteration in the level of total serum cholesterol have all been implicated as risk factors for atherosclerosis, this present study was designed to determine whether very low percentages of gasoline per kilogramme body weight could cause toxicity in rats. Female albino Wistar rats were divided into four groups. The control group was fed with normal rat diet. Groups 2, 3 and 4 were fed with diet contaminated with 0.10%, 0.50% and 1.00% gasoline respectively for a total of 14 days. Total serum cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and triglyceride levels were used as diagnostic markers to assess liver dysfunction. The mean levels of total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and triglyceride were significantly (p<0.05) higher in the experimental groups when compared to the control and the mean level of HDL- cholesterol was significantly (p<0.05) lower when higher percentage of gasoline was administered. These results showed that frequent exposure to gasoline fuel may be highly deleterious to the liver cells

Palm Oil Mill Effluent Effect on soil fertility: a longitudinal assessment of Zea mays plant

Background: This research evaluate the growth of maize (Zea mays) on palm oil mill effluent (POME) contaminated soil. The physiochemical properties and heavy metal loads of the soil samples and POME were determined. The growth rates of Zea mays was evaluated on shoot length, leaf length, root length, chlorophyll content, germination time, germination percentage and biomass.Materials and Methods: The palm oil mill effluent were mixed with the contaminated soil, the un-mixed soil was used as control. Soil dehydrogenase and phosphatase activities were assayed in contaminated and un-contaminated soil using standard methods. The plants were irrigated by serially diluting POME samples.  Results: The K+, Ca2+, Mg2+, cation exchange capacity and phosphorus content of the POME contaminated soil were significantly (P 0.05) lower than the control. There was no significant P 0.05 difference in the C, N, Na+ and organic content of the soil samples. The heavy metals in the POME showed Zn, Cu, Ni and Fe, but Pb, Cd and Cr were absent. POME contaminated soil and the control showed Pb, Zn, Ni and Fe, while Cd and Cr were not detected. The activities of dehydrogenase (0.13±0.57) and phosphatase activity (0.38±0.22) in POME contaminated soil decreased significantly p ≤ 0.05 compared to the dehydrogenase (0.76±0.11) and phosphatase activity (1.35±0.36) in control soil.Conclusion: POME is a potent pollutant that inhibits the growth of Zea may

Evaluation of toxicological implications of ingestion exposure to gasoline in mammals

Epidemiologic and experimental data suggest that exposure to petroleum hydrocarbon exert toxicities on variety of organs of living system such as the lungs, liver and kidney. Because increased LDL cholesterol, decreased HDL cholesterol and alteration in the level of total serum cholesterol have all been implicated as risk factors for atherosclerosis, this present study was designed to determine whether very low percentages of gasoline per kilogramme body weight could cause toxicity in rats. Female albino Wistar rats were divided into four groups. The control group was fed with normal rat diet. Groups 2, 3 and 4 were fed with diet contaminated with 0.10%, 0.50% and 1.00% gasoline respectively for a total of 14 days. Total serum cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and triglyceride levels were used as diagnostic markers to assess liver dysfunction. The mean levels of total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and triglyceride were significantly (p<0.05) higher in the experimental groups when compared to the control and the mean level of HDL- cholesterol was significantly (p<0.05) lower when higher percentage of gasoline was administered. These results showed that frequent exposure to gasoline fuel may be highly deleterious to the liver cells

Estimation of residual polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons concentration in fish species: Implication in reciprocal corollary

The scientific evidence that aquatic animal’s model bio-concentrate polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in their tissue has been proven beyond reasonable doubt. The worry is how much of these contaminants bio-concentrate in food and fish. This research investigates whether and to what extent residual PAHs bio-concentrate in—atlantic crocker (Micropogonias undulates), tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus), and yellow tail (Seriola lalandi). Twelve samples points were collected covering four kilometers along the Qua Ibeo river. They were quantitatively and qualitatively screened for PAHs concentration in water and in fish samples using gas chromatography tandem mass spectroscopy technique. Bio-concentration factor (BCF) was calculated via finding the ratio of mean PAHs concentration in fish to mean PAHs concentration in water. Results showed variable concentration of individual PAHs in water and in fish samples. Most apprehensively is the elevated concentration of some PAHs beyond permissible limit. And this call for worry or concern for public health and safety. The sixteen priority PAHs listed by the United State Environmental Protection Agency as carcinogenic were detected as: Naphthalene, 2-Methylnaphthalene, Acenaphthylene, Acenaphthene, Fluorene, Phenanthrene, Anthracene, Fluoranthene, Pyrene, Benzo (a) anthracene, Triphenylene, Benzo (e) pyrene, Benzo (a) pyrene, Indeno (1,2,3,cd) pyrene, Benzo (g,h,i) perylene, Dibenzo (a,h) anthracene, and 000053-70-3-benzo (e) pyrene, respectively