Water contamination: A culprit of serum heavy metals concentration, oxidative stress and health risk among residents of a Nigerian crude oil-producing community

Abstract

Niger Delta has become popular for crude oil extraction for the past few decades. This uncoordinated activity has made it a hotspot for xenobiotics exposure and water bodies remain the environmental matrix significantly affected. One of the most deleterious components of crude oil is heavy metals (HMs). This study investigates HMs concentration in water and serum of humans residing in an oil-host community with the consideration of systemic effects, pollution status, carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic health risks and comparison made with residents from a non-oil-producing community. Heavy metal analysis, serum electrolytes, Urea, Creatinine, and liver enzymes were assessed using standard procedures; malondialdehyde, catalase, SOD, glutathione reductase, GPx and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) by spectrophotometry and TNF-α and 8-OHdG assessed via ELISA method. We found altered serum electrolytes; increased serum Pb and Cd levels; increased AST, ALT, ALP and lipid peroxidation; and decreased enzymes antioxidants including TAC among Ugbegugun community residents compared with control. We observed an association between environmental crude oil contamination, ecological and health risks in the community. We concluded that protracted exposure to HMs induces multi-systemic toxicities characterized by DNA damage, depletion of the antioxidant system, and increased free radical generation culminating lipo-peroxidation with significant ecological, carcinogenic, and non-carcinogenic risks characterize crude oil water contamination.