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

Abstract

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; Electrolytes