BIOCHEMICAL AND HISTOLOGIC CHANGES IN ALBINO RATS IN RESPONSE TO CHARCOAL POWDER EXPOSURE
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.30970/sbi.1504.661
Abstract
Background. In developing and under-developed countries, charcoal production predisposes workers to charcoal dust. This is a common occurrence as workers in this field are not properly protected and as such are exposed to charcoal dust through inhalation and skin contact. Charcoal comprises many components such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Due to the possible health risk associated with such exposure, this study was designed to determine the effects of charcoal powder of particle size 125 µm - 150 µm on certain biomarkers in male albino rats. Albino rats were used because of their similar physiology to humans.
Materials and Methods. 20 albino rats weighing between 250 g and 300 g were used for this study; they were randomly distributed in 4 groups (5 rats each) and the charcoal powder was incorporated into their feed at different percentages; control, group 1 (10 % charcoal), group 2 (30 % charcoal) and group 3 (charcoal powder bedding) for 50 days. Using standard procedures and methods, the following parameters were tested: Hematological parameters, semen parameters, liver enzymes, renal function, hormones and lung histology.
Results. The results indicated a decrease in the level of liver enzymes AST (IU/L) and ALT (IU/L) in group 1, group 2 and group 3 when compared to the control with the lowest value of 48.75 IU/L and 11.50 IU/L respectively recorded in group 2. Prolactin (mIU/L) had mean values of 1.73, 1.30 and 1.83 in group 1, group 2 and group 3 respectively while the control was 2.10. Testosterone (nmol/L) had a mean value of 1.18, 0.53 and 0.25 in group 1, group 2 and group 3, respectively, while the control was 0.90 with a significant difference (P<0.05). Creatinine (µmol/L) increased in group 1 and group 2 with a slight reduction in group 3 when compared to control (1.04) with a value of 1.35, 1.40 and 1.23, respectively. Total sperm count (´105/mL) had a mean value of 58.33, 50.00 and 43.25 in group 1, group 2 and group 3, respectively, while the control was 100.50. The lung histology for the treated groups revealed infiltration of inflammatory cells and thickening of inter-alveolar walls.
Conclusion. Long term exposure to charcoal powder through nasal or oral route had serious effects on rats’ health, such as kidney damages, inflammation of the lungs and decrease in fertility in males primarily due to the presence of PAHs in charcoal.
Keywords
Full Text:
PDFReferences
| Abdel-Shafy, H. I., & Mansour, M. S. M. (2016). A review on polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons: Source, environmental impact, effect on human health and remediation. Egyptian Journal of Petroleum, 25(1), 107-123. doi:10.1016/j.ejpe.2015.03.011 Crossref ● Google Scholar | ||||
| ||||
| Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), (1995). Toxicological profile for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Atlanta, GA: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service. | ||||
| ||||
| Asadi, N., Bahmani, M., Kheradmand, A., & Rafieian-Kopaei, M. (2017). The impact of oxidative stress on testicular function and the role of antioxidants in improving it: A review. Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research, 11(5), IE01-IE05. doi:10.7860/jcdr/2017/23927.9886 Crossref ● PubMed ● PMC ● Google Scholar | ||||
| ||||
| Baird, W. M., Hooven, L. A., & Mahadevan, B. (2005). Carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon-DNA adducts and mechanism of action. Environmental and Molecular Mutagenesis, 45(2-3), 106-114. doi:10.1002/em.20095 Crossref ● PubMed ● Google Scholar | ||||
| ||||
| Cindy, K. (2016). Health effects of low testosterone. Available at: https://www.google.com.ng/amp/s/www.menshealth.com/health/amp19533454/effects-of-low-testosterone/ | ||||
| ||||
| Diaz, J. V., Koff, J., Gotway, M. B., Nishimura, S., & Balmes, J. R. (2006). Case report: a case of wood-smoke - related pulmonary disease. Environmental Health Perspectives, 114(5), 759-762. doi:10.1289/ehp.8489 Crossref ● PubMed ● PMC ● Google Scholar | ||||
| ||||
| Eileen, D. K., Matthew, W. W., Randall, J. S., Van, V., & Francis, H. Y. G. (2009). Contributions of dust exposure and cigarette smoking to emphysema severity in coal miners in the United States. American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, 180(3), 257-264. doi:10.1164/rccm.200806-840oc Crossref ● PubMed ● Google Scholar | ||||
| ||||
| Electron Microscopy Sciences (EMS), (2021). Neubauer Haemocytometry. Retrieved on 29 August, 2021 from https://www.emsdiasum.com/microscopy/technical/datasheet/68052-14.aspx | ||||
| ||||
| Farzan, S. F., Chen, Y., Trachtman, H., & Trasande, L. (2016). Urinary polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and measures of oxidative stress, inflammation and renal function in adolescents: NHANES 2003-2008. Environmental Research, 144, 149-157. doi:10.1016/j.envres.2015.11.012 Crossref ● PubMed ● PMC ● Google Scholar | ||||
| ||||
| Gao, J., & Burchiel, S. W. (2014). Genotoxic mechanisms of PAH-induced immunotoxicity. Molecular Immunotoxicology, 245-262. doi:10.1002/9783527676965.ch12 Crossref ● Google Scholar | ||||
| ||||
| Han, X., Zhou, N., Cui, Z., Ma, M., Li, L., Cai, M., Li, Y., Lin, H., Ao, L., Liu, J., & Cao, J. (2011). Association between urinary polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon metabolites and sperm DNA damage: A population study in Chongqing, China. Environmental Health Perspectives, 119(5), 652-657. doi:10.1289/ehp.1002340 Crossref ● PubMed ● PMC ● Google Scholar | ||||
| ||||
| Hsu, P. C., Chen, I. Y., Pan, C. H., Wu, K. Y., Pan, M. H., & Chen, J. R. (2006). Sperm DNA damage correlates with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons biomarker in coke-oven workers. International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health, 79(5), 349-356. doi:10.1007/s00420-005-0066-3 Crossref ● PubMed ● Google Scholar | ||||
| ||||
| Jeffcoate, S. L., Bacon, R. R. A., Beastall, G. H., Diver, M. J., Franks, S., & Seth, J. (1986). Assay for prolactin: Guidelines for the provision of a clinical biochemistry service. Annals of Clinical Biochemistry: International Journal of Laboratory Medicine, 23(6), 638-651. doi:10.1177/000456328602300603 Crossref ● PubMed ● Google Scholar | ||||
| ||||
| Jeng, H. A., & Yu, L. (2008). Alteration of sperm quality and hormone levels by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons on airborne particulate particles. Journal of Environmental Science and Health, Part A, 43(7), 675-681. doi:10.1080/10934520801959815 Crossref ● Google Scholar | ||||
| ||||
| Khairy, M. A., Kolb, M., Mostafa, A. R., EL-Fiky, A., & Bahadir, M. (2009). Risk assessment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in a Mediterranean semi-enclosed basin affected by human activities (Abu Qir Bay, Egypt). Journal of Hazardous Materials, 170(1), 389-397. doi:10.1016/j.jhazmat.2009.04.084 Crossref ● PubMed ● Google Scholar | ||||
| ||||
| Kim, K.-H., Jahan, S. A., Kabir, E., & Brown, R. J. C. (2013). A review of airborne polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and their human health effects. Environment International, 60, 71-80. doi:10.1016/j.envint.2013.07.019 Crossref ● PubMed ● Google Scholar | ||||
| ||||
| Kolhatkar, A., Ochei, J., & McGraw, T. (2008) Medical Laboratory Science: Theory and Practice, Tata Mcgraw Hill, New York, NY, USA. Google Scholar | ||||
| ||||
| Larson, T. V., & Koenig, J. Q. (1994). Wood smoke: emissions and non-cancer respiratory effects. Annual Review of Public Health, 15(1), 133-156. doi:10.1146/annurev.pu.15.050194.001025 Crossref ● PubMed ● Google Scholar | ||||
| ||||
| Mamuya, S. H., Bråtveit, M., Mashalla, Y., & Moen, B. E. (2007). High prevalence of respiratory symptoms among workers in the development section of a manually operated coal mine in a developing country: A cross sectional study. BMC Public Health, 7(1). doi:10.1186/1471-2458-7-17 Crossref ● PubMed ● PMC ● Google Scholar | ||||
| ||||
| Monzer, B., Sepetdjian, E., Saliba, N., & Shihadeh, A. (2008). Charcoal emissions as a source of CO and carcinogenic PAH in mainstream narghile waterpipe smoke. Food and Chemical Toxicology, 46(9), 2991-2995. doi:10.1016/j.fct.2008.05.031 Crossref ● PubMed ● Google Scholar | ||||
| ||||
| Morton, J., & Snider, T. A. (2017). Guidelines for collection and processing of lungs from aged mice for histological studies. Pathobiology of Aging & Age-Related Diseases, 7(1), 1313676. doi:10.1080/20010001.2017.1313676 Crossref ● PubMed ● PMC ● Google Scholar | ||||
| ||||
| Ramesh, A., Inyang, F., Lunstra, D. D., Niaz, M. S., Kopsombut, P., Jones, K. M., Hood, D. B., Hills, E. R., & Archibong, A. E. (2008). Alteration of fertility endpoints in adult male F-344 rats by subchronic exposure to inhaled benzo(a)pyrene. Experimental and Toxicologic Pathology, 60(4-5), 269-280. doi:10.1016/j.etp.2008.02.010 Crossref ● PubMed ● PMC ● Google Scholar | ||||
| ||||
| Ramos, K. S., & Moorthy, B. (2005). Bioactivation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon carcinogens within the vascular wall: implications for human atherogenesis. Drug Metabolism Reviews, 37(4), 595-610. doi:10.1080/03602530500251253 Crossref ● PubMed ● Google Scholar | ||||
| ||||
| Reitman, S., & Frankel, S. (1957). A colorimetric method for the determination of serum glutamic oxalacetic and glutamic pyruvic transaminases. American Journal of Clinical Pathology, 28(1), 56-63. doi:10.1093/ajcp/28.1.56 Crossref ● PubMed ● Google Scholar | ||||
| ||||
| Rengarajan, T., Rajendran, P., Nandakumar, N., Lokeshkumar, B., Rajendran, P., & Nishigaki, I. (2015). Exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons with special focus on cancer. Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Biomedicine, 5(3), 182-189. doi:10.1016/s2221-1691(15)30003-4 Crossref ● Google Scholar | ||||
| ||||
| Sette, L., & Lopes, E. (2015). The reduction of serum aminotransferase levels is proportional to the decline of the glomerular filtration rate in patients with chronic kidney disease. Clinics, 70(5), 346-349. doi:10.6061/clinics/2015(05)07 Crossref ● Google Scholar | ||||
| ||||
| Silva, B. O., Adetunde, O. T., Oluseyi, T. O., Olayinka, K. O., & Alo, B. I. (2011). Effects of the methods of smoking on the levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in some locally consumed fishes in Nigeria. African Journal of Food Science, 5(7), 384-391. Google Scholar | ||||
| ||||
| Tzanakis, N., Kallergis, K., Bouros, D. E., Samiou, M. F., & Siafakas, N. M. (2001). Short-term effects of wood smoke exposure on the respiratory system among charcoal production workers. Chest, 119(4), 1260-1265. doi:10.1378/chest.119.4.1260 Crossref ● PubMed ● Google Scholar | ||||
| ||||
| Ubogu, M., & Odokuma, L. O. (2019). Growth and tolerance evaluation of selected plants to crude oil contamination in the Niger Delta. Kuwait Journal of Science, 46(4), 93-103. Google Scholar | ||||
| ||||
| United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), (1984). Carcinogen assessment of coke oven emissions, the United States Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C. Google Scholar | ||||
| ||||
| Xia, Y., Zhu, P., Han, Y., Lu, C., Wang, S., Gu, A., Fu, G., Zhao, R., Song, L., & Wang, X. (2009).Urinary metabolites of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in relation to idiopathic male infertility. Human Reproduction, 24(5), 1067-1074. doi:10.1093/humrep/dep006 Crossref ● PubMed ● Google Scholar | ||||
| ||||
| Zaneveld, L. J., & Polakoski, K. L. (1977). Collection and physical examination of the ejaculate. In: E. S. Hafez (Ed.), Techniques of human andrology (pp. 147-156). North Holland Biomedical Press, Armsterdam. Google Scholar | ||||
Refbacks
- There are currently no refbacks.
Copyright (c) 2021 O E. Oriakpono, C. Anuforo, E. E. Nduonofit, B. K. Deeyah, M. C. Ekeke
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.