Page 85 - JCTR-11-2

Journal of Clinical and
Translational Research Crude oil pollutants in Southern Nigeria

1. Introduction development. Although the placenta acts as a selective
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barrier against several unwanted or toxic substances
Crude oil comprises a variety of vaporous and semi- from the mother to the fetus, these substances can still
vaporous chemicals, including polycyclic aromatic damage the placenta, resulting in adverse consequences for
hydrocarbons (PAHs), sulfur- and nitrogen-containing pregnancy outcomes. 9-11
substances, and metal elements. The burning of crude
oil releases additional PAH combustion by-products, The thyroid modulates important processes, such
including a wide range of vaporous gases and very small as neuronal stem cell multiplication, movement, and
particulate matter, which could be inhaled or penetrate the myelination in the fetus. The unborn child depends on the
epithelial cells of the body. Petroleum hydrocarbons behave maternal thyroid hormone supply before 18 – 20 weeks of
differently in the environment and are readily released into pregnancy. Therefore, the placental transfer of the expectant
the atmosphere, food chain, and environment that humans mothers’ thyroid hormone throughout early pregnancy is
make contact with. The discharge of crude oil pollutants critical. Hence, the iodine status of the pregnant woman
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into the environment is a serious concern. Fuel derived is essential for the fetus’s brain development. Evidence
from petroleum hydrocarbons is widely utilized on a has demonstrated that exposure to environmental
global scale. Contamination frequently arises from various crude oil contaminants can impede thyroid hormone
activities, such as exploration, production, maintenance, accessibility and action at several functional levels. 4,12,13
transportation, storage, and accidental release of petroleum It was suggested that the exposure of the fetus to thyroid
hydrocarbons, due to the high demand for it as an energy hormone-disrupting substances and iodine deficiency
source. This contamination causes substantial ecological are major contributing factors to the increasing incidence
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consequences. The advancement of contemporary society of neurodevelopmental diseases in humans. Iodine is a
has exerted strain on the energy supply, particularly on crucial component of the thyroid hormone and contributes
petroleum hydrocarbons, which have borne the majority to its biosynthesis. The role of environmental and genetic
of this burden. The ramifications of this event are both interactions in causing illness is now more evident than
2,3
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disastrous and catastrophic, impacting not only humans when the concept was first proposed. There has been
but also other living organisms within the ecosystem. limited investigation into the potential influence of unborn
babies’ exposure to environmental crude oil toxicants on
The search, mining, and processing of crude oil neonatal anthropometric indices in Southern Nigeria. This
generate harmful environmental substances and expose study seeks to determine how prenatal exposure to ambient
individuals, particularly during crucial and vulnerable crude oil toxicants affects neonatal anthropometric indices
stages of development like pregnancy, to a wide range and maternal/cord blood thyroid hormone levels in crude
of health effects that can persist throughout life and oil-producing villages in Southern Nigeria.
potentially be passed on to future generations. Crude
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oil toxicants can enter the human body via the oral 2. Methods
route, nose, and skin, which can gradually stockpile or
accumulate in the liver, blood, and epithelial tissues. Blood 2.1. Study design
flow between the mother and fetus is very important This research was designed as a case-control study and was
to human development and needs to be investigated, carried out at the Central Hospitals in Warri and Asaba,
especially in crude oil-producing communities due to their Nigeria, from July 2021 to June 2022. The study focused on
sensitivity to both mother and fetus. Expectant mothers adult expectant mothers in their third trimester who were
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and their unborn babies are at risk when exposed to a permanent residents of the Warri South Local Government
combination of pollutants known as endocrine disruptors, Area, an area characterized by active crude oil exploration
as the fetus depends on the mother for nutrients, gasses, and exploitation, as well as Asaba, a town devoid of such
and waste exchange. The duration of exposure and dose activities. Both locations are situated within Delta State,
of the toxicants absorbed are crucial factors that exert Nigeria.
biological effects on the fetus. Prenatal exposure to crude
oil and its derivatives through placental transfer may lead 2.2. Study population
to adverse effects on fetal weight, recumbent length, head The study subjects included adult expectant mothers who
circumference, and ponderal index (PI). Evidence has were in their third trimester of pregnancy and residing in
6,7
indicated that crude oil toxicants may actively participate Warri and Asaba (Delta State, Nigeria). They were between
in the transcription of thyroid-releasing hormones and the ages of 18 and 41 years. Fifty healthy pregnant women
may impede thyroid function, thus affecting neonatal living in Warri (cases) and 30 healthy pregnant women
6,8
health and pregnancy outcomes by distorting growth and living in Asaba (controls) were enrolled in the research.

Volume 11 Issue 2 (2025) 79 doi: 10.36922/jctr.24.00083