Effect of Chronic Exposure to Petroleum Hydrocarbon Pollution On Some Biochemical Parameters of Individuals Native to Ebocha, Niger Delta

ABSTRACT The impact of pollution due to gas flaring on individuals native to Ebocha in Niger Delta Area was investigated. One hundred and five apparently healthy individuals between 21-70years who consented for the study were screened, seventy five individuals from Ebocha and thirty from Nsukka-a control location with no history of petroleum hydrocarbon pollution. Standard analytical procedures were used in the determination of the concentration of ascorbic acid (AA) of the individuals (males and females). The activities of antioxidant enzymes catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and glutathione reductase (GR) were analyzed. Results obtained for the ascorbic acid concentration of both male and female individuals from Ebocha were found to be significantly (p˂0.05) lower than those from Nsukka. The results also revealed that the activities of antioxidant enzymes CAT and GPx for male individuals from Ebocha were found to be significantly (p˂0.05) lower when compared to those from Nsukka. However, the results showed that increase in the duration of the exposure significantly (p˂0.05) reduced the concentration of AA and activities of CAT and SOD in contrast to the significant increase in the activities of GPx and GR. Thus, these findings show that the concentration of AA and activities of all the antioxidant enzymes from the blood samples of individuals from Ebocha were altered, and it is possibly due to the chronic exposure to gas flaring in Ebocha community which might predispose them to various disease conditions.