Implication of Acute, Sub-chronic and Chronic Exposure to Different Pesticides via Inhalation on Male Wistar Rats

This study was carried out to investigate the combined toxicological effects of ten pesticides: Paraquat, Termicot (Chlorpyrifos), Sniper (Dichlorvos (Ddvp), Best (Cypermethrin), Delta Force (Deltamethrin), Vitoate 40 EC (Dimethoate), Force Up (Glyphosate), Attacke and Karto (Lambda Cyhalothrin) on some selected hematological and biochemical profile of male Wistar rats. Thirty six male Wistar rats weighing 152-198g were divided into three groups on weight basis. Groups' 1 and 2 containing 12 rats each were exposed to the pesticides by inhalation for 8 hours daily while the rats in group 3 received normal feed and water and constituted the male control for comparison. The Wistar rats were used to simulate the interminate exposure of farmers and retailers who use and sell these pesticides regularly. In comparison to male control animals alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels of the male rats exposed to these pesticides fumes increased significantly (p<0.05). The hematological parameters revealed an insignificant decrease in red blood cell count (RBC) indices after 2 weeks and a further insignificant decrease in RBC after 4 weeks in the male rats, hemoglobin (HB) and packed cell volume (PCV) levels also decreased significantly (P<0.05) after 2 weeks with more significant decrease after 4 weeks in the male rats when compared to the male control respectively. While white blood cell (WBC), neutrophils (N) and lymphocytes (L) increased insignificantly (P>0.05) after 2nd and 4th week in the male rats respectively. However, there was no significant difference in the levels of urea and creatinine as well as other serum electrolytes of the male rats after the 2nd and 4th week as compared to the male control. The results suggest that exposure to pesticides by inhalation leads to hepatotoxicity and anemia and continuous exposure to pesticides fumes may be toxic and capable of causing multiple organ toxicity, if results of this present study can be extrapolated to man.