THE EFFECT OF SOME PLANT OILS ON ORGANS DYSFUNCTION INDUCED BY EXPOSURE TO CEMENT DUST IN RATS

Abstract

Cement is one of the most widely used construction materials. The main components of cement have derived from toxic heavy metals such as nickel, cobalt, lead, chromium, and Silica. It also contains thallium and many other impurities. Many cement toxic compounds had been showing to causes damages to both cellular and body organs in addition to their roles in genetic disorders and cancers. In most countries, dust due to cement factories is a major problem that both factory workers and nearby residents are faced with as it affects the quality of the air they inhale. Also, cement dust poses an environmental threat to the ecosystem with an adverse impact on vegetation and aquatic life. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the potentially hazardous effects of oral exposure to cement on the liver and kidney in rats, and also, to study the possible ameliorative effects of some plant oils against cement induced toxicity. Forty Sprague Dawley rats (20 male + 20 female) were divided into five groups 8 rats/group; four males and four females Group1: Negative control, rats were fed on a basal diet. Group II: positive control, rats were fed on basal diet contains cement (1.5 g/Kg). Groups III, IV, V: rats were fed on a basal diet contain cement (1.5g/Kg) and10% of one the tested oils (coconut oil, or flaxseed oil or olive oil, respectively, instead of corn oil). The experiment continued for four weeks. The results were focused on different items i.e., Food intake, body weight gain, feed efficiency ratio, relative weight of organs, biochemical analysis (liver and kidney function tests) and histological examination of liver, kidney, lung and brain.