Petroleum Products Altered Cardiovascular Function, PCV & Plasma Lipid

Major problem facing dwellers in Niger Delta environment of Nigeria is related to pollution by petroleum products. This pollution often results to diffused chronic exposure to massive acute exposure as occurs in blow outs and vandalism. These concentrations may lead to physiological stress and dysfunction. This study investigated the effects of petroleum products(diesel, kerosene and petrol) and their water soluble fractions(WSF) on cardiovascular function, packed cell volume and plasma lipid profile in experimental rats(Rattus norvegicus).The petroleum products and their WSF were administered into rats for three weeks. They were anaesthetized with a mixture of urethane and alpha chloralose in 0.9 saline. the rats were cannulated using a polythene catheter filed with solution of heparin. The femoral artery was cannulated for recording of the arterial blood pressure and heart rate. Blood samples were collected for plasma lipids assay while internal organs were harvested and weighed. The control rats received water only. The study revealed that petroleum fractions and their WSF altered cardiovascular function and plasma lipids profile, while fall in PCV was not significant.