Page 87 - JCTR-11-2

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

2.9. Statistical analysis There was no significant difference in birth weight between

The results obtained were systematically organized and exposed and unexposed newborn babies.
subjected to appropriate statistical analysis. The gathered Table 4 demonstrates that expectant moms who
results were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social were exposed to crude oil pollution had similar thyroid
Science (version 26.0; IBM, Chicago, USA). Data were hormone levels and glucose concentrations to those who
analyzed using independent Student’s t-test, and values are were not exposed. Crude oil pollution-exposed mothers
presented as mean ± standard deviation. The significance had considerably higher serum TSH levels (p<0.03)
level was established at p<0.05. compared to unexposed mothers, but triiodothyronine
(T3) and thyroxine (T4) levels were significantly lower
3. Results (p<0.001 and p<0.04, respectively). There was a significant
Table 1 displays the sociodemographic variables of the difference in mean glucose levels between exposed and
subjects. The age distribution of study participants ranged unexposed pregnant women.
from 18 to 41 years, and no notable difference was observed
between the mean age of exposed and non-exposed Table 2. Demographic characteristics of newborn infants in
expectant mothers. The educational status, employment the study
status, and body mass index (BMI) were not significantly Variables n (%)
different between exposed and non-exposed expectant
Prenatally
mothers. Prenatally non‑exposed
exposed
Table 2 demonstrates that the gender of the newborn Gender of newborn
and birth weight were not significantly different between Male 23 (46) 14 (46.7)
prenatally exposed and prenatally non-exposed infants.
Female 27 (54) 16 (53.3)
Table 3 compares the anthropometric measurements Birth weight (kg; reference range: 2.5 – 4.0)
of prenatally exposed and unexposed newborn infants. Low (<2.5) 3 (6) 2 (6.7)
Prenatal exposure resulted in significantly smaller head Normal (>2.5) 47 (94) 28 (93.3)
circumferences (p<0.005), recumbent lengths (p<0.001),
and PI (p<0.001) compared to unexposed newborn babies.
Table 3. Comparison of anthropometric measurements of
Table 1. Sociodemographic characteristics of pregnant prenatally exposed (n=50) and non‑exposed (n=30) newborn
women in the study infants
Parameters n (%) Anthropometric Prenatally Non‑exposed p
Exposed mothers Unexposed mothers parameters exposed newborn infants
newborn infants
Maternal age (years)
Birth weight (kg) 3.34±0.3 3.47±0.4 0.2
18 – 23 8 (16) 6 (20)
Head circumference (cm) 33.3±1.2 34.4±2.1 0.005
24 – 29 14 (28) 12 (40)
Recumbent length (cm) 52.8±0.2 54.4±0.2 0.001
30 – 35 20 (40) 10 (33.3)
Ponderal index (g/cm ) 2.24±0.5 2.45±0.2 0.001
3
36 – 41 8 (16) 2 (6.7)
Educational status
Primary 3 (6) 2 (6.6) Table 4. Levels of thyroid hormone and glucose in exposed
(n=50) and unexposed (n=30) expectant mothers to crude oil
Secondary 28 (56) 14 (46.7) pollution
Tertiary 19 (38) 14 (46.7)
Employment status Parameters Reference Crude oil‑exposed Unexposed p
mothers
range
mothers
Yes 45 (90) 26 (86.7) TSH (mIU/L) 0.39 – 4.16 2.83±0.84 2.46±0.83 0.034
No 5 (10) 4 (13.3) T3 (ng/mL) 10.0 – 20.0 6.85±1.45 9.26±0.59 0.001
Body mass index (kg/m ) T4 (µg/dL) 4.8 – 11.6 11.12±0.86 12.08±1.54 0.046
2
Normal (18.5 – 25) 30 (60) 18 (60) Glu (mg/dL) 70 – 100 92.7±7.18 68.0±2.01 0.207
Overweight (>25) 20 (40) 12 (40)
Note: The reference ranges are trimester-specific.
Note: The maternal age of exposed mothers and unexposed mothers is Abbreviations: TSH: Thyroid-stimulating hormone;
27.2±1.2 and 27.4±0.9 years, respectively. T3: Triiodothyronine; T4: Thyroxine; Glu: Glucose.

Volume 11 Issue 2 (2025) 81 doi: 10.36922/jctr.24.00083