HAEMATALOGICAL EFFECTS OF GASOLINE VAPOUR EXPOSURE BY INHALATION IN THE WISTAR ALBINO RATS

Aims: This study is to investigate the effect of gasoline vapour exposure on haematological indices in wistar albino rats under simulated work place exposure. Study design: Experimental study Place and Duration of Study: College of Medical Sciences, University of Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria betweenFebruary ? September 2010. Methodology: Adult male wistar albino rats were exposed to gasoline vapour in an exposure chamber, with concentration of gasoline vapour maintained at the lower explosive limit 1.4ppm, daily for eight hours, five days a week for six months to simulate the normal working hours. The rats were divided into two groups, group I animals were placed 6cm from the source of the gasoline vapour and group II 150cm from the source. Results: The results show a significant (P< 0.05) increase in red blood cell count (6.68?0.35 and 8.03?0.27) and haemoglobin concentration (11.93?0.29 and 10.95?0.27). There was also a significant rise (p<0.05) in the total leucocyte count (10.58?0.57 and 9.30?0.27) in the exposure group I and II respectively as compared with control group (9.38?0.12). Gasoline vapour exposure at work place has significant effect on haematological indices. Conclusion: The results of this study showed that gasoline vapour exposure has effect on haematological indices, increasing the haemoglobin concentration, packed cell volume, neutrophil count, lymphocyte count, and red blood cells count.