Abstract
Sublethal toxic effects of spent oil based drilling mud collected from an abandoned oil drilling site in Mpanak, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria were assessed in the earthworm Aporrectodea longa . The test annelid was exposed to sub-lethal Concentration of 0ppm SPP; 62,500ppm SPP; 125, 000ppm SPP; 250,000ppm SPP and 500,000ppm SPP of drilling mud for 28 days. The procedure for the exposure was according to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) recommended method for testing chemicals No 207. There were three replicate jars per treatment and 10 earthworms per jar of soil spiked with drilling mud. Control groups were also set up. At the end of the exposure, bioaccumulation of the chemical constituents of the drilling mud (heavy metals and TPH) increased (p<0.01) with increase drilling mud concentration. Mean weights of earthworms increased in the 62,500 and 125,000SPP and decreased in the 250,000 and 500,000SPP. Glucose levels increased with increase in the drilling mud concentration with the exception of 62,500ppm SPP. The elevated glucose levels could be due to hyperglycemia induced by the toxicity of the drilling mud. Protein levels increased with increase in drilling mud concentration except in the 125,000ppm SPP treatment. The increase in protein content could be due to enhancement of microsomal protein synthesis prompted by the toxicity of the drilling mud to test organisms. The results of this study have shown that drilling mud and cuttings could cause serious health risk to Aporrectodea longa. The discharge of drilling mud into the terrestrial ecosystems should be discouraged. © JASEM
Highlights
In Nigeria there are several oil and gas exploration and development activities going on
The impact of drilling mud discharges in the Niger Delta ecosystem of Nigeria is a current environmental concern, with regards to the components that are used in formulating these drilling muds and the disappearance of the rich biodiversity of the Niger Delta, which is the key resource for sustainable development (Sikoki and Zabbey 2006)
Toxicological effects of spent oil based drilling mud and cuttings collected from an abandoned oil drilling site in Mpanak, Niger Delta Region of Nigeria were assessed in the earthworm Aporrectodea longa
Summary
In Nigeria there are several oil and gas exploration and development activities going on. The toxic chemicals associated with the activities are discharged into the environment which enter biological systems, disturb biochemical processes and alter normal organism functions. Drilling mud/fluid is a term that refers to the lubricant used in oil drilling operations that stabilizes and lubricates the drill bit in the drilling process. They are suspension of solid in liquid emulsion and/or dissolved materials with chemical additives which are employed during exploration to remove cuttings. Toxicological effects of spent oil based drilling mud and cuttings collected from an abandoned oil drilling site in Mpanak, Niger Delta Region of Nigeria were assessed in the earthworm Aporrectodea longa
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