Toxicity Studies of Photo-Oxidized Vegetable Oil and Water Underlying Crude Oil in Albino Rats

Prolonged exposure to sunlight or florescent light of vegetable oils contained in transparent vessels are susceptible to photo-induced oxidation that results in formation of potentially toxic peroxides, alcohols, ketones, aldehydes and carboxylic acid. Similarly, crude oil spillage land and water pose severe health risks to people who are chronically exposed when photo-oxidation takes place, especially shallow water subsistent fishermen and farmers. Hence, the main objective of the study is to ascertain probable toxicities of photo-oxidized vegetable oil and spilled crude oil to people who chronically consume or are exposed to them. This was achieved by determining whether or not treatment of albino rats with photo-exposed vegetable oil or water underlying spilled crude oil would adversely alter parameters of organ function markers [OFMs] as indicators of probable organ toxicity. Samples of virgin olive oil were exposed in transparent glass bottles to fluorescent lighting continuously for 336 hours. Control samples were not exposed. Intermittently, aliquots of exposed samples were subjected to peroxide value analysis. A sample of crude oil was suspended in water in a glass container and exposed to sunlight continuously for 336 hours. Control sample was keep in a dark cupboard. Similarly, both sample types were analyzed by GC-MS. Thirty-six [36] male albino rats were divided into nine groups of four animals each. All treated albino rats were given olive oil or water underlying crude oil mixed with rat feed in a ratio of 2:10 or 4:10 v/w respectively and given drinking water ad libitum except the external control. The treatment was daily for 6 weeks, at the end of which rats were sacrificed by decapitation following manual stunning. Blood sample of approximately 5ml was collected from each rat for liver and kidney function indicators [OFMs] analysis. The results revealed increasing peroxide values of fluorescent lighting-exposed virgin oil as a function of increasing duration [in hours], from zero hour [control] of 2meq/kg to 56meq/kg at 336hours of exposure, and four different levels of effect on liver and kidney function indicators [OFMs]. In conclusion, the continuous exposure of vegetable oil [in transparent container] and water underlying crude oil to indoor fluorescent lighting or to atmospheric sunlight respectively result in the oxidation of the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons to potentially toxic secondary metabolites which result to the probable hepato-and nephrotoxicities by treatment of adult male albino rats as judged by effects to liver and