Heavy Metal Induced Protein Oxidation Toxicity in People Living in an Oil Producing Area

Abstract

Blood samples collected from 200 residents each from Igbeta-Ewoama (Oil producing area) and Odi (Non-oil producing community) all in Bayelsa State, Nigeria were analyzed to determine the levels of cadmium, chromium, lead, mercury, selenium and also the protein oxidation oxidative stress marker- protein radicals. Blood levels of hemoglobin (Hb), white blood cells (WBC), platelets, prothrombin time and serum concentrations of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), albumin, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), bilirubin, gamma glutamyl transferase, total protein, sodium, potassium, chloride, bicarbonate, urea and creatinine were equally measured. Significantly higher levels of cadmium, chromium mercury, lead, selenium and protein radicals were observed in residents from Igbeta-Ewoama community(P<0.05). With the exception of albumin, total protein, sodium, chloride and bicarbonate, Igbeta-Ewoama residents also had the highest mean values of all the measured liver and kidney functions parameters and these values were all statistically different at P<0.05. Measured differences in blood levels of Hb, WBC and Platelets were equally significant while the length of bleeding time was significantly prolonged in the residents of Igbeta-Ewoama community. The findings of this study suggest that the risk of occurrence of diseases associated with metal toxicity and protein oxidation damage might be higher among residents in the oil producing area.