Exposure to Petroleum Hydrocarbon: Implications in Lung Lipid Peroxidation and Antioxidant Defense System in Rat

Objective: Various studies have implicated automobile exhausts as risk factors in cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases; however, there is little or no documentation on the role of the main source of the exhausts, petroleum hydrocarbons, on cardiopulmonary pathologies. Thus, we investigated the effect of petroleum hydrocarbons, using various petroleum products, on histomorphology of the lung and the role of lipid peroxidation in it. Materials and Methods: Control rats were not exposed to any of the petroleum products, whereas petrol-exposed, diesel-exposed, and kerosene-exposed rats were exposed to petrol, diesel, and kerosene by inhalation, respectively. Results: Exposure to petroleum hydrocarbons significantly induced lipid peroxidation with a consequent rise in malondialdehyde (MDA), and a decrease in superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities and glutathione (GSH) level. Exposure to petroleum hydrocarbons also caused an alteration in the histomorphology of lung tissues. Conclusion: Our findings imply that exposure to petroleum hydrocarbons by inhalation is a risk factor in the pathophysiology of pulmonary dysfunction. This is associated with oxidative stress.