Thirty days exposure to kerosene induces alteration in select serum trace element levels in rats

Ayobola A Iyanda

Department of Chemical Pathology, College of Health Sciences, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Osogbo, Nigeria.

E-mail: lapeiyanda@yahoo.com, Phone: +2347039407465

Accepted 16 August, 2012

Abstract

Trace elements are essential micronutrients required in minute amount by a number of metabolic processes. In many parts of Africa, kerosene is widely available since it is the most commonly used fuel for cooking purposes. As a result of this common availability, excessive exposure to this product has been described. The aim of this study is to identify if exposure to trace amount of kerosene is capable of causing depletion in magnesium and trace element levels. Eighteen Wistar rats divided equally into three groups were used for the study. Administration of trace amount of kerosene (0.4 ml/kg body weight) by oral or dermal route resulted in significant increase (p<0.05) in the level of Cr and significant decreases (p<0.05) in the levels of Fe, Mo, Co, Mn and Mg in rats in both dermal and orally administered routes except Mo and Mn which were not significantly different (p>0.05) in rats in dermal route. Magnesium and trace elements play significant physiologic roles and their depletion has been identified as an etiologic factor of many disease conditions. The results of this study therefore suggest that kerosene exposure even at trace quantity is capable of altering magnesium and trace element status in a mammalian species.  A situation which may predispose an individual to many of the clinical conditions associated with essential element deficiencies.

Keywords: kerosene; magnesium, trace elements