The systemic toxicity of Prudhoe Bay Crude and other petroleum oils to CD-1 mice

CD-1 mice were given oral doses of 0-16 ml/kg/day for five days of Prudhoe Bay (PBCO), South Louisiana and Arabian Light crude oils, Bunker C oil (BCO), mineral oil (MO) and corn oil. Minor decreases in packed cell volume and increases in mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration occurred after ingestion of crude oils and BCO. Dietary depletion of vitamin E and selenium failed to enhance hematological changes. Pronounced liver enlargement and atrophy of thymus and spleen accompanied ingestion of all petroleum oils except MO and were shown to be dependent on dose of PBCO. Concentration of RNA and total RNA were increased while total DNA, but not concentration of DNA, was increased in enlarged livers. Liver enlargement was attributed primarily to hyperplasia with an additional contribution due to hypertrophy. The severe hemolytic anemia reported in marine birds that ingested PBCO was not reproduced in mice. Liver enlargement and lymphoid tissue atrophy were similar to those reported in other species exposed to petroleum oils.