Determination of Unmetabolized Petroleum Hydrocarbons in the Urine of Occupationally Exposed Persons in Port-Harcourt, Nigeria by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS)

Autor: Orji, Orji J., Tesi, Godswill Okeoghene, Ossai, Jude Chinedu, Obianime, Atuboyedia W.
Zdroj: Chemistry Africa; December 2022, Vol. 5 Issue: 6 p2173-2183, 11p
Abstrakt: Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are an environmental and health concern because a number of them have known mutagenic and carcinogenic properties. Usually, the metabolites of PAHs in urine have been used to assess human exposure and risks of these compounds but recent techniques allow the determination of unmetabolized PAHs in urine, which provide further information regarding sources and toxicity of PAHs. Thus, this study was carried out to assess the concentrations of unmetabolized petroleum hydrocarbons in the urine of occupationally exposed persons in Port-Harcourt, Nigeria. Urine samples were collected from a total of 33 participants comprising 7 oil depot workers, 7 automobile mechanics, 14 petrol pump attendants and 5 students used as control. All the samples were analysed for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and aliphatic hydrocarbons (AHs) using gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry after extraction with dichloromethane and hexane. The results showed that in all the samples the concentrations of ∑16-PAHs and total AHs (TAHs) ranged from 0.08 to 24.67 ng/L and 2.28 to 49.31 ng/L respectively. The concentrations of ∑16-PAHs and TAHs in the occupationally exposed individuals were higher than those of the control group. There was no significant variation (p > 0.05) in the concentrations of PAHs and TAHs in the urine of the occupationally exposed individuals. The average concentrations of the ∑16 PAHs in these occupationally exposed individuals followed the order: oil depot workers > automobile mechanics > petrol pump attendants while that of TAHs was automobile mechanics > petrol pump attendants > oil depot workers respectively. The lower molecular weight PAHs were the dominant PAHs in the urines. Generally, the urines contained higher loads of non-carcinogenic PAHs than carcinogenic PAHs. The results also showed that gender, smoking and occupational accidents do not influence the concentrations of PAHs and TAHs in the urine of these participants.
Databáze: Supplemental Index
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