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ABSTRACT
Calcium carbide (CaC2) is mainly employed in industrial applications, such as generating acetylene gas for welding. Notably, its use as a fruit and vegetable ripening agent has raised health concerns. Additionally, its widespread presence in developing countries like Nigeria and India, including in drinking water, which prompted this study investigating its impact on red blood cell parameters in Wistar rats. 70 rats weighing between (135.8g – 215.9g) were divided into four groups at random as follows: Group 1 (n=16) control, Group 2 (n=18) 0.96mg/Kg BW CaC2 solution, Group 3 (n=18) 1.92mg/Kg BW CaC2 solution, Group 4 (n=18) 2.88mg/Kg BW CaC2 solution. After the experimental period of four weeks, the rats were anesthetized with chloroform and blood samples were collected by coronary sinus from each rat and stored in EDTA tubes before analysis by automated hematology analyzers. Hematological analysis revealed significant alterations in red blood cell indices, including mean corpuscular volume (MCV) mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) red blood cell distribution width (RDW-SD) and (RDW-CV) in the experimental group compared to controls. However, red blood cell count (RBC) Hemoglobin concentration, Hematocrit (HCT) results revealed no statistically significant change in experimental groups compared to controls. These changes in the red blood cell parameters indicate that calcium carbide exposure can disrupt red blood cell function by altering red blood cell size and population.
Keywords: Calcium carbide, Hematological parameters, Wistar rats.
