RÉSUMÉ

We examined the pattern of excretion of crude oil nickel (CON) in urine and feces. Adult male guinea pigs were treated with a single dose of 5mL/kg b.w. Nigerian Bonny light crude oil applied on the skin. Untreated guinea pigs served as controls. The CON content was measured spectrophotometrically by the dimethylglyoxime reaction following nitric acid:perchloric acid: sulfuric acid (3:1:1) digestion of blood, urine, and feces samples at 2, 4, 8, and 16 days after the crude oil application. We found a peak of CON excretion in the urine at 2 days and a return to the control level at 16 days. There was no change in the CON content in the feces during the observation time. We found a peak of CON content in the blood at 8 days and a return to control values at 16 days. The implication of these excretion and transport patterns of CON is discussed vis-a-vis the potential application of the urinary nickel content as a valid biochemical indicator of human exposure to environmentally spilled crude oil.