Page 84 - JCTR-11-2

Journal of Clinical and

Translational Research

ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Impact of prenatal exposure to crude oil

pollutants on newborn anthropometrics and
thyroid hormone levels in Southern Nigeria

Mathias Abiodun Emokpae * , Lawrence Ogana 1 , and
1
Adebayo Okikiola Uthman 2
1 Department of Medical Laboratory Science, School of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Benin,
Benin City, Edo, Nigeria
2 Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Achievers University Owo, Owo, Ondo, Nigeria

Abstract

Background: The search and extraction of crude oil produce harmful
environmental compounds and expose individuals, particularly during crucial and
vulnerable stages of development like pregnancy, to a variety of negative health
impacts. Aim: This study aims to assess the effects of prenatal exposure to ambient
crude oil pollutants on selected newborn anthropometric measurements and
maternal/cord blood thyroid hormone levels in crude oil-producing communities.
Methods: Fifty pregnant women were environmentally exposed to crude oil,
*Corresponding author: along with their newborns, and 30 pregnant women who were not exposed,
Mathia A. Emokpae
(mathias.emokpae@uniben.edu) along with their infants, were enrolled in the study. Maternal blood was obtained
between weeks 29 and 39 of pregnancy, while cord blood was collected after birth.
Citation: Emokpae MA, Ogana L,
Uthman AO. Impact of prenatal Thyroid hormones (triiodothyronine [T3], thyroxine [T4], and thyroid-stimulating
exposure to crude oil pollutants hormone [TSH]) were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.
on newborn anthropometrics The newborn’s weight, length, and head circumference were measured, and the
and thyroid hormone levels in
Southern Nigeria. J Clin Transl Res. ponderal index (PI) was calculated for all study neonates. Results: The results
2025;11(2):78-86. indicated that selected newborn health indicators (recumbent length, head
doi: 10.36922/jctr.24.00083 circumference, and PI) were considerably lower in infants exposed before birth
Received: December 24, 2024 compared to non-exposed neonates. TSH in cord blood was much lower, but T3
and T4 levels were significantly greater in prenatally exposed newborns than in
Revised: February 2, 2025
prenatally unexposed neonates. Serum TSH levels were notably higher, whereas
Accepted: March 27, 2025 T3 and T4 levels were reduced in women exposed to crude oil than in expectant
Published online: April 14, 2025 mothers who were not. The difference in mean glucose levels between exposed and
non-exposed expectant mothers was insignificant. Both mothers and newborns
Copyright: © 2025 Author(s).
This is an open-access article exposed to ambient crude oil toxicants displayed mild or silent changes in thyroid
distributed under the terms of the hormone levels. Conclusion: Silent hypothyroidism in crude oil-exposed mothers
Creative Commons AttributionNon- and hyperthyroidism in prenatally exposed neonates might be responsible for the
Commercial 4.0 International (CC
BY-NC 4.0), which permits all changes in health indicators of neonates. Health education and awareness of the
non-commercial use, distribution, dangers associated with crude oil exposure, as well as preventive measures, should
and reproduction in any medium, be intensified in these communities. Relevance for patients: Prenatal exposure to
provided the original work is
properly cited. crude oil pollutants can impair growth and development and pose a threat to the
health of newborn infants.
Publisher’s Note: AccScience
Publishing remains neutral with
regard to jurisdictional claims in
published maps and institutional Keywords: Pregnancy; Newborn; Prenatal exposure; Thyroid hormones; Petroleum
affiliations.

Volume 11 Issue 2 (2025) 78 doi: 10.36922/jctr.24.00083