Hepatotoxic and renal effects of the water soluble fractions of spent engine oil in Swiss albino mice

Abstract

Spent engine oil (SEO) contains toxic metals which may be leached into water supplies during precipitation. These metals may bioaccumulate during exposure, eliciting adverse effects on the liver and the kidneys, both target organs for several contaminants. This study determined the hepatotoxic and renal effects of the water soluble fractions (WSF) of SEO in mice. The levels of renal function biomarkers (creatinine and urea) and iron, zinc, copper, nickel, lead and cadmium levels in livers of twenty-four male albino mice administered daily oral gavages of 0%, 1%, 10% and 100% WSF of SEO for 30 days were evaluated. Creatinine (0.17±0.06 mg/dl) and urea (22.33±1.53 mg/dl) levels were lowest and highest respectively at 10%, although values were marginal but were not significantly different from control (p>0.05). Iron (61150.27±2300.25ug/l), Zn (25942.57±975.86), Cu (7412.20±278.81), and Ni (185.33±6.98ug/l) levels in the liver were significantly elevated (p<0.05) at 10%, while lead and cadmium showed dose-dependent but insignificant difference (p>0.05) compared with control and other treatments. Iron, zinc, copper and nickel levels at 10% were highest in the treatments. These results provide evidence for the adverse renal and hepatotoxic effects of water contaminated with SEO and highlight the need for its proper management.

Keywords: Hepatotoxicity, creatinine, urea, metal contaminants, waste oil.