ABSTRACT
In this study, the effects of the metallic constituents of Warri River among which are Fe, Pb, Cr, Cu, Cd, Mn and Hg on selected biochemical parameters and histopathology of rat kidney and liver were investigated.
The study was carried out for a period of 3 months, in which Fe, Pb, Cu, Hg, Cr, Cd and Mn were administered singly and in combination (Fe and Hg), as well as an amalgam of all the metals listed above via drinking water. During the study, group A rats served as control and were not exposed to the metals, group B rats were exposed to boiled Warri river water, group C rats were exposed to unboiled Warri river water, group D rats were exposed to a combination of all metals (Fe (0.72 mg/l), Cu (0.015 mg/l), Hg (0.001 mg/l), Cr (0.001 mg/l), Cd (0.001 mg/l), Mn (0.001 mg/l), Pb (0.001 mg/l)), group E rats were exposed to Fe (0.72 mg/l), group F rats were exposed to Cu (0.015 mg/l), group G rats were exposed to a combination of (Fe (0.72 mg/l) + Hg (0.001 mg/l)), group H rats were exposed to Hg (0.001 mg/l), group I rats were exposed to Cr (0.001 mg/l), group J rats were exposed to Cd (0.001 mg/l), group K rats were exposed to Mn (0.001 mg/l) and group L rats were exposed to Pb (0.001 mg/l).
At the end of 3 months of treatment, rats exposed to Cd, Pb and Hg tainted water had significantly increased (p ≤ 0.05) urea, creatinine, potassium, chloride, sodium, total protein and bilirubin, direct bilirubin and cholesterol levels and alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activities when compared to the control. While there was a slight increase (p ≤ 0.05) in urea, creatinine, potassium, chloride, sodium, total protein, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), total bilirubin, direct bilirubin, gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and cholesterol levels in rats exposed to Warri river water (boiled and unboiled) compared to the control. These results suggest that when these metals used for the study exist singly, they are harmful and toxicity increases, but when they occur in combination they exhibit antagonistic effect reducing or limiting each other’s toxicity.
