Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Levels in Wistar Rats Exposed to Ambient Air of Port Harcourt, Nigeria: An Indicator for Tissue Toxicity

Rogers Kanee, Precious Ede, Omosivie Maduka, Golden Owhonda, Eric Aigbogun, Khalaf F. Alsharif, Ahmed H. Qasem, Shadi S. Alkhayyat and Gaber El-Saber Batiha
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Rogers Kanee: Institute of Geo-Science and Space Technology, Rivers State University, P.M.B. 5080, Nigeria
Precious Ede: Institute of Geo-Science and Space Technology, Rivers State University, P.M.B. 5080, Nigeria
Omosivie Maduka: Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, Faculty of Clinical Sciences, University of Port Harcourt, P.M.B. 5323, Nigeria
Golden Owhonda: Department of Public Health Services, Rivers State Ministry of Health, Port Harcourt 500001, Nigeria
Eric Aigbogun: Center for Occupational Health, Safety, & Environment (COHSE), Institute of Petroleum Studies (IPS), University of Port Harcourt, P.M.B. 5323, Nigeria
Khalaf F. Alsharif: Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Taif University, Taif 21944, Saudi Arabia
Ahmed H. Qasem: Laboratory Medicine Department, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Umm Al-Qura University, Mecca 21955, Saudi Arabia
Shadi S. Alkhayyat: Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
Gaber El-Saber Batiha: Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Damanhour University, Damanhour 22511, AlBeheira, Egypt

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 11, 1-21

Abstract: This study investigated the PAH levels in Wistar rats exposed to ambient air of the Port Harcourt metropolis. Twenty Wistar rats imported from a nonpolluted city (Enugu) were exposed to both indoor and outdoor air. Following the IACUC regulation, baseline data were obtained from 4 randomly selected rats, while the remaining 16 rats (8 each for indoor and outdoor) were left till day 90. Blood samples were obtained by cardiac puncture, and the PAH levels were determined using Gas Chromatography Flame-Ionization Detector (GC-FID). GraphPad Prism (version 8.0.2) Sidak’s (for multiple data set) and unpaired t -tests (for two data sets) were used to evaluate the differences in group means. Seven of the PAHs found in indoor and outdoor rats were absent in baseline rats. The mean concentrations of PAH in indoor and outdoor animals were higher than those of baseline animals, except for Benzo(a)pyrene, which was found in baseline animals but absent in other animal groups. Additionally, Dibenz(a,h)anthracene, Indeno(1,2,3-c,d)pyrene, Pyrene, 2-methyl, and other carcinogenic PAHs were all significantly higher ( p < 0.05) in outdoor groups. The vulnerable groups in Port Harcourt are at the greatest risk of such pollution. Therefore, urgent environmental and public health measures are necessary to mitigate the looming danger.

Keywords: particulate matter; polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons; Port Harcourt metropolis; Wistar rats (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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