Effects of Petroleum Products Inhalation on Hematological Parameters of Male Wistar Albino Rat
1 Department of Applied Biology and Biotechnology, Enugu State University of Science and Technology.
2 Department of Biological sciences, School of Applied Natural Sciences, Federal Polytechnic, Bida, Niger State.
3 Department of Animal and Environmental Biology, Federal University of Dutse, Jigawa State.
Research Article
International Journal of Life Science Research Archive, 2026, 10(02), 127-138.
Article DOI: 10.53771/ijlsra.2026.10.2.0042
Publication history:
Received on 25 April 2026; revised on 04 June 2026; accepted on 06 June 2026
Abstract:
This study investigated the hematological effects of petroleum products exposure on male Wistar albino rats, focusing on key blood parameters such as packed cell volume (PCV), hemoglobin (HB), red blood cell (RBC) counts, neutrophils, lymphocytes, eosinophils, basophils and monocytes. Twenty-five rats were placed in a custom-built inhalation chamber, exposed to 500ml of petroleum products in a 1000ml container, it was placed in a different section in the inhalation chamber to avoid the rats drinking from it or pushing it down. The exposure was conducted for 1 hour per day, for 14 days. The rats were exposed to various petroleum products, including petrol, diesel, and kerosene, with assessments conducted at baseline, week 7, and week 14. Significant reductions in PCV, HB, and RBC counts were observed in exposed groups, indicating potential anemic conditions resulting from toxic exposure. Additionally, marked fluctuations in white blood cell (WBC) counts were noted, with increases in neutrophils and decreases in lymphocytes, suggesting an inflammatory response and immune system compromise. The study also documented variations in eosinophils and basophils, highlighting the complex immune dynamics affected by petroleum inhalation. While some recovery in hematological parameters was noted by week 14, persistent alterations underscore the risks of prolonged exposure of petroleum products to Wister rats.
Keywords:
Hematological; Wistar Rats; Petroleum Products; Inhalation
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Copyright © 2026 Author(s) retain the copyright of this article. This article is published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Liscense 4.0