Physiological, Oxidative Stress and Histopathological Effects of Exposure of White Mice, Mus musculus to Petrol Generator Exhaust

This study evaluated the potential damage in vivo due to exposure to petrol generator exhaust fumes using White mice, Mus musculus. Four mice per group (experimental and control groups) were exposed to the exhaust fumes for 30 days. Weight changes, activity quotient and oxidative stress indicators (superoxide dismutase-SOD, catalase-CAT, reduced glutathione-GSH, glutathione-S-transferase-GST and malondialdehyde -MDA) were assessed for both groups. The results showed that there was no significant difference in activity quotient (P > 0.05) between both groups after the 30d study. The activities of the enzymes, GSH and GST, were inhibited (P < 0.05) and the level of MDA in the liver of the exposed mice increased significantly (P < 0.05) while those of SOD and CAT were not significantly different (P > 0.05) from the control. Various degrees of thickening of the alveolar septa and mononuclear inflammatory cells which were largely perivascular, peribronchiolar, and subpleural were the histological changes observed in the lungs of exposed mice. Hepatic tissue sections of the exposed mice also revealed some degree of pan lobular hepatocyte hyperplasia while the kidney sections showed a ghost outline of the tubule and glomeruli-acute cortical necrosis. The results indicated that the generator exhaust fumes had detrimental effects on the exposed mice, raising concerns regarding daily human exposures in cities like Lagos with a huge reliance on petrol generators. The need for improved provision of public electricity and adoption of cleaner household energy sources is advocated.