Environmental Exposure to Crude Oil: A Potential Risk for Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) in Disadvantaged Countries

Exposure to environmental pollutants has been associated with the high burden of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) in disadvantaged populations. Although biologically plausible, the evidence for kidney damage from hydrocarbon or crude oil exposure is still conflicting. Several human and animal studies from as far back as the 1950s have associated some forms of chronic glomerulonephritis or CKD, with long-term human exposure to hydrocarbons. However, other studies have produced opposite findings or dispute findings of positive studies.

This paper reviews in detail the mechanisms of environmental and human exposure to crude oil and the evidence for crude oil associated chronic kidney disease. Additionally, a search was conducted on PubMed and Google Scholar, revealing 152 articles, out of which, 64 articles were included for review; animal studies and case reports were excluded Results: Overall, 64% of the studies reviewed supported an association between hydrocarbon exposure and kidney disease. Eight out of the nine cohort studies reported a positive association, and the only meta-analysis reported an increased risk for renal cancer. Conversely, 50% of the mortality studies reported no increased risk of deaths due to cancer among petroleum oil workers. Existing review articles on this subject were mostly inconclusive (55%).

A significant proportion of studies have supported the increased risk for CKD in exposed individuals. The possibility that crude oil exposure may indeed cause harm underscores the need to re-open the subject matter. Well-designed epidemiological studies, particularly situated in oil producing communities of disadvantaged countries may be a step in the right direction.