ABSTRACT
In rural Africa, a number of alternative treatment options are explored because of poverty and unawareness. Kerosene is one such agent used for the treatment of a myriad of diseases. The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of trace amounts of kerosene on lung, heart, brain and intestine in rats. Eighteen rats were used consisting of 6 rats per group. The first and second groups were administered kerosene (0.4 ml of kerosene/kg body weight) through oral and dermal route respectively. Six other rats served as the control. Results showed significant damage to all the tissues examined; with pathologic presentation comprising of pulmonary congestion, severely stunted villi, congestion of coronary vessels, and diffuse spongiosis of the cerebral cortex in kerosene administered group while control group featured no visible lesion. Although As, Al and Cd were not significantly different in kerosene exposed groups compared with control, Si was significantly lower (oral), and significantly increased (dermal) (p<0.05) compared with control. Results of this study suggest that exposure to even small quantities of kerosene may damage a variety of organs/tissues in the body and its exposure to human subjects for whatever reason should be discouraged.
ABSTRACT
Background: Kerosene is a commonly available product used for cooking and lighting purposes in many parts of Asia and Africa where it is sold in beverage bottles and jerry cans in both commercial and residential places because of inadequate filling stations. Therefore excessive exposure through both dermal and oral routes is common. Objective: This study is embarked upon to determine the impact of trace amount of kerosene on serum vitamin levels in female Wistar rats. Methods: Kerosene (0.4 ml/kg body weight) was administered to rats either through the oral or dermal route daily for a period of 30 days and the levels of vitamins were estimated using the high performance liquid chromatography technique. Results: Using Student t test only pantothenic acid was not significantly (p>0.05) different when oral or dermal group was compared with control, all other vitamins were significantly decreased (p<0.05), Moreover, using ANOVA, riboflavin, folic, niacin and vitamins A and D were more depleted in rats in oral route of administration than those in dermal group. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that exposure to this product either through the oral or dermal route may be detrimental to health as it induced vitamin depletion.
ABSTRACT
Aim: Many of the studies that have been carried out to investigate the toxicity of kerosene have been large-dose, acute-setting experiments. Although the hepatic and renal damage as a result of kerosene exposure has been demonstrated in an earlier study in female Wistar rats, gender is known to play a role in an animal’s response to a xenobiotic. Therefore, the aim of this study is to determine the effect of repeated exposure of trace amount of kerosene to male Wistar rats so as to establish if differences in gender of an animal will modulate the toxic response of kerosene in sub-chronic setting. Methods: Twelve male rats were divided equally into 2 groups and administered with 0.4 ml/kg kerosene either through the oral or dermal route; six other rats served as control group. Kerosene administration lasted for 21 days after which blood was obtained through retro-orbital bleeding. Results: Results of the study reveal that while the hepatic enzymes alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate amino transferase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and γ-glutamyl transferase (γ-GT) as well as other biochemical parameters- bilirubin, urea, creatinine and uric acid were significantly increased, total protein and albumin were significantly reduced (p<0.05). Moreover, in most cases these changes were more significant for oral route than dermal route. Conclusion: These results suggest nephrotoxic and hepatotoxic nature of kerosene in male rats and confirm that the oral route of administration is more dangerous than