Consequence of smoke from crude oil contaminated firewood on female reproductive hormones and oxidative stress biomarkers of Wistar rats

C.O Dike,M.O Ifeanacho,D.C Belonwu

doi:10.4314/jasem.v22i6.2

Abstract

The study evaluated the effect of smoke from crude oil contaminated firewood on selected female reproductive hormones and oxidative stress biomarkers of wistar rats. The smoke exposure lasted for 28 days. Carbon monoxide (CO), Oxides of Nitrogen (NOx), Oxides of Sulphur (SOx), Hydrogen sulphide (H2S), Methane (CH4), Volatile Organic Compound (VOC), Ammonia (NH3) and Particulate Matter (PM) (1, 2.5, 10) were determined in the smoke generated from the burning of firewood harvested from crude oil polluted site. Oxidative stress biomarker (Catalase (CAT), Malondialdehyde (MDA), Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione (GSH) and female reproductive hormone (FSH, LH and estrogen) were evaluated in the wistar rats exposed to smoke generated from this firewood. The air profile values of the polluted firewood smoke was CO (112.3ppm), SO2 (0.61ppm), VOC (3.5ppm), NH3 (2.63ppm), PM1 (0.11ppm), PM2.5 (0.16ppm), PM10 (0.27ppm). The estrogen level in all the groups were significantly reduced when compared to the control except for group 2 which has no significant change (p≥ 0.05). The oxidative stress markers SOD and CAT were significantly increased (p≤ 0.05) in groups 3, 4, 6 and 7. MDA were significantly increase (p≤ 0.05) in groups 6 and 7. These results reveal that smoke of firewood from an oil impacted environment have the potential to elicit toxic effects on selected reproductive hormones and oxidative stress in wistar rats.Keywords: Air pollution, Smoke, Reproductive hormone, Oxidative stress

Highlights

Wood burning is a major contributor to air pollution and this is a problem because most people believe that since wood smoke is a natural substance it has to be devoid of harmful substance but it has been established that wood smoke from firewood stove, agricultural fires etc emit considerable quantities of known health harmful pollutants, including several carcinogenic compounds like Carbone Monoxide (CO), NO2, benzene and some endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) like, dioxin, PAHs, and particulate matter (Villeneuve et al, 2012).These EDCs are capable of antagonizing the action of hormones (Crisp et al, 1998)
The result of the smoke components for both the test wood and that of the control are shown in table 1
When the smoke components generated from both wood was compared to the ambient air, a high significant value at (p< 0.05) were seen with the pollutants CO, Volatile Organic Compound (VOC), PM1 and PM10 the values of pollutant in the test wood was significantly higher at (p< 0.05) to those obtained from the control wood

Summary

Introduction

Wood burning is a major contributor to air pollution and this is a problem because most people believe that since wood smoke is a natural substance it has to be devoid of harmful substance but it has been established that wood smoke from firewood stove, agricultural fires etc emit considerable quantities of known health harmful pollutants, including several carcinogenic compounds like CO, NO2, benzene and some endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) like, dioxin, PAHs, and particulate matter (Villeneuve et al, 2012).These EDCs are capable of antagonizing the action of hormones (Crisp et al, 1998). Report from World Health Organization (WHO) state that approximately 8 to 10% of couples globally are faced with some kind of infertility problem. This is to say that 50 to 80 million people are facing the problem of getting a complete family. In Nigeria most people have resorted to the use of firewood as their major source of energy for cooking as a result of the high cost of kerosene and other cooking fuels This they do without knowing the influence the practiceshas on their health. The meteorological parameters monitored included; carbon monoxide, nitrogen IV oxide, sulphur IV oxide, hydrogen sulphide, volatile organic compounds, ammonia, methane and particulate matter (1, 2.5, and 10 micron). Superoxide Dismutase Activity Assay (SOD):The determination of SOD was based on the ability of SOD to inhibit the autoxidation of epinephrine at pH 10.2

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Conclusion