A Study of Serum Levels of Select Heavy Metals and Histology of Brain, Lung, Heart and Ileum of Rats Chronically Exposed to Kerosene

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.