Comparative Nephrotoxicity and Hepatotoxicity Effects of Kerosene, Gasoline, Liquefied Petroleum Gas and Biomass Fuel Exposure on Male Albino Rats

Abstract

The effects of Kerosene, gasoline, and liquefied petroleum gas and biomass fuel exposure on biomarkers of kidney and liver were investigated in male wistar rats. Fifty adult male wistar rats were randomly assigned to five groups of ten animals each. Rats in group A served as control (exposed to fresh air). Group B, C, D and E were exposed to inhalation of kerosene, gasoline, liquefied petroleum gas and biomass fuel (wood smoke) respectively. All the exposures were done using whole body exposure chambers 70 cm x 60 cm x 60 cm measurement for six weeks, 6 days per week. Five millilitres of blood sample were collected and serum extracted at the end of six weeks. The serum concentration of urea, creatinine, uric acid and activities AST, ALT, γGT were determined using Cobas reagent kits manufactured by Roche Diagnostics GmbH, Sandhofer Strasse 116, D-68305 Mannheim, Germany. Values were analysed statistically using SPSS version 23.0.  The result shows significant increase in the serum  levels of urea, creatinine and uric acid of test groups relative to control (p<0.05), though the effect appear to be more pronounced with exposure to kerosene, gasoline and biomass fuel. The exposure also led to significant increase in activities of AST, ALT and γGT (p<0.05). These results suggest that repeated exposure to kerosene, gasoline and liquefied petroleum gas and biomass fumes may elicit hepatic and renal toxicity, thereby impairing the normal liver and kidney function.