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In vitro red blood cell assay for oxidant toxicity of petroleum oil

  1. C.M. Couillard†*,
  2. F.A. Leighton

Article first published online: 21 OCT 2009

DOI: 10.1002/etc.5620120507

Issue

Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry

Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry

Volume 12, Issue 5, pages 839–845, May 1993

Additional Information

How to Cite

Couillard, C.M. and Leighton, F.A. (1993), In vitro red blood cell assay for oxidant toxicity of petroleum oil. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 12: 839–845. doi: 10.1002/etc.5620120507

Author Information

  1. Department of Veterinary Pathology, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, S7N 0W0 Canada

  1. †

    Institut Maurice-Lamontagne, Mont-Joli, Quebec, G5H 3Z4 Canada

*Department of Veterinary Pathology, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, S7N 0W0 Canada

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 21 OCT 2009
  2. Article first published online: 21 OCT 2009
  3. Manuscript Accepted: 21 AUG 1992

Funded by

  • Wildlife Health Fund of the Western College of Veterinary Medicine
  • University of Saskatchewan
  • Wildlife Toxicology Fund
  • Natural Sciences and Engineering Council of Canada

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Keywords:

  • Petroleum oil;
  • Red blood cell;
  • Methemoglobin

Abstract

Petroleum oil has caused hemolytic anemia in birds and mammals. In birds, an oxidant damage on circulating red cells has been identified as the primary toxic effect of ingested petroleum oils. An in vitro red blood cell assay was developed to discriminate among the oxidant activities of different petroleum oils. The assay used rabbit red blood cells with a rat liver enzyme system and formation of methemoglobin was measured as an indicator of oxidant damage to the red cells. The assay was applied to five different petroleum oils and to naphthalene, a petroleum hydrocarbon known to cause hemolytic anemia. Different petroleum oils differed in their capacity to induce methemoglobin formation. Methemoglobin levels varied from 2.9% with Arabian light crude oil to 6.2% with South Louisiana crude oil. Naphthalene induced formation of up to 37% methemoglobin. Naphthalene and the five petroleum oils generated methemoglobin only in the presence of liver enzymes.

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