Effects of drinking diesel-contaminated water on the hematological and serum biochemical parameters of mice

Pollution of the environment by petroleum products is a common feature in oil producing nations, especially in the developing countries where the incidence of pipe line leakage and valdalization is very common. This study investigated the effects of exposure to water contaminated with very low concentration of diesel on some hematological and serum biochemical parameters of mice. A total of 20 albino mice were used for the study. The mice were allowed to drink from water contaminated with diesel 1 %, v/v for 6 weeks. Hematological and serum biochemical parameters of the mice that were exposed to the contaminated water were compared to control mice. There was a significant (p<0.05) decrease in the packed cell volume, hemoglobin concentration, red blood cell count, mean corpuscular hemoglobin, and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration of mice that were allowed to drink from the diesel-contaminated water. The mean corpuscular volume also increased significantly (p<0.05) in these mice. The activities of these serum enzymes; aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, and alkaline phosphatase increased significantly (p<0.05). Serum concentrations of total bilirubin and creatinine also increased significantly (p<0.05). The results indicate that diesel-contaminated water or products even at the lowest concentration is a threat to the environment. The health of humans and other species exposed to this environmental pollutant is adversely affected.