Impact of Chronic Exposure of Petrol Chemicals on Anxiety and Obssessive Compulsive Like Behaviours in Adults Male Swiss Mice

Student: Becky Ogagaoghene (Project, 2025)
Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics
Delta State University, Abraka, Delta State


Abstract

This study investigated the impact of chronic exposure to petrol chemicals and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) on anxiety and obsessive-compulsive-like behaviours in adult male Swiss mice. The Elevated Plus Maze test was used to assess anxiety-related responses, with mice divided into control, petrol-exposed, LPG-exposed, and combined petrol and LPG-exposed groups. Findings revealed that exposure to petrol significantly increased anxiety-like behaviour compared to the control group. Combined exposure to petrol and LPG produced a stronger anxiogenic effect than petrol alone, while LPG exposure alone showed no significant behavioural change. These results suggest that chronic exposure to petrol chemicals may contribute to heightened anxiety and obsessive-compulsive-like behaviours in adult male Swiss mice. Further research is recommended to explore the specific neurobiological mechanisms, exposure durations, and interactions between different petrol-based pollutants.

Keywords
exposure petrol chronic chemicals anxiety behaviours swiss impact obsessive-compulsive-like adult