ACUTE AND CHRONIC TOXIC EFFECTS OF OIL ON MAMMALS

Abstract

The growth of globalized industries has increased the demand for oil, increasing accidents in its exploitation and transport. Therefore, the aim of this work is to assess the acute and chronic toxic effects of oil on terrestrial and aquatic mammals. A search for information was carried out in databases such as Scopus, Science Direct, SciELO and other sources such as Google Scholar. The PRISMA approach was used for the analysis and selection of information, and 54 articles were selected for this systematic review. The review on mammalian exposure to hydrocarbons revealed that cetaceans are the most studied, with a focus on marine mammals. The most frequently mentioned contaminants were oil and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), due to spills such as Deepwater Horizon and Exxon Valdez. These hydrocarbons cause DNA damage, inflammation and genetic mutations, affecting the health and reproduction of species, with acute and chronic impacts, underlining the need for mitigation strategies to protect marine wildlife and human health. Recent studies show that oil spills cause chronic effects on mammals, such as genetic and physiological damage, affecting their survival and reproduction. This occurs through exposure by contact, inhalation, and ingestion. This is why strict policies and effective remediation measures are needed due to bioaccumulation and difficult oil degradation.