LIVER AND KIDNEY FUNCTION TESTS IN EXPERIMENTAL RATS EXPOSED TO CAR PAINTS AND ADDITIVE

Abstract

The effects of fumes from car paints (hardener, primer, clear coat and their synergistic combination) and additive (thinner) used in car refurbishing industry were investigated on liver and kidney functions in exposed albino rats. Rats (n=64) were divided into 6 groups consisting of 12 rats each, 5 of which were exposed to individual chemicals (thinner, hardener, primer, clear coat, synergistic combination) for 28days and the sixth, being the control (unexposed) group. On the 3rd, 7th, 14th and 28th day, three rats from each group were killed and their sera analyzed for serum enzymes (aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase and alkaline phosphatase) and bilirubin to asses liver function and sodium, potassium, urea, creatinine, bicarbonate and chloride ion concentration to assess kidney function. Results obtained indicated that serum enzymes and bilirubin increased significantly in all the test groups relative to the control group, but most significantly for AST, ALP and bilirubin at P<0.05. Parameters for kidney function increased in all the test groups when compared to the control but most significantly for creatinine, bicarbonate and potassium at P<0.05. Most of the parameters were increased by the 7th day but fell towards control values by the 28th day. In general, synergistic combination had the greatest effect in most cases while primer and thinner gave the least effects on both liver and kidney functions. It is therefore concluded that exposure to fumes of car paints and additive may cause both kidney and liver dysfunction