
	Research Journal of Environmental Toxicology
	Year: 2008 \| Volume: 2 \| Issue: 1 \| Page No.: 1-8 DOI: 10.3923/rjet.2008.1.8

The Effects of Cement Dust on Albino Rats (Rattus norvegicus) Around West African Portland Cement Factory in Sagamu, Ogun State, Nigeria

Modupe Olatunde Akinola, Ngozi Agatha Okwok and Tajudeen Yahaya

Abstract: A total of 10 Albino rats obtained from an animal house in Lagos were exposed to cement dust for six weeks at the West African Portland Cement Factory at Sagamu, Ogun State. Two others were kept in an environment free from cement dust but within the same climatic zone. The weights of rats exposed to cement dust in 2nd, 4th and 6th week were significantly lower than the ones kept in the cement free zone (p<0.05). The difference in weight increased with the period of exposure to cement dust. The chemical analysis of the lung tissues of the rats exposed showed high levels of Calcium, Silicon, Zinc, Aluminium and Iron compared to the unexposed rats. The histopathological examination of internal organs of exposed rats showed loss of mycocardial striations, interstitial oedema, hyalinization, progressive necrosis and atrophy of the cells of the heart. The liver had cellular oedema, haemorrhage of the tissue and partial necrosis. The kidney showed cortical necrosis and tubular atrophy while the lungs showed interstitial oedema and cellular atrophy. The results further confirm that cement dust is pathogenic and toxic. There is no doubt that people who work in the cement factory stand the risk of being affected with different types of diseases arising from exposure to cement dust. This calls for the use of modern machines to reduce the amount of cement dust that gets to the environment. Moreover, the regulatory agencies should be more serious in monitoring industrial activities to reduce the incidence of all forms of environmental pollution including air pollution arising from cement dust.

PDF Fulltext XML References Citation Report Citation

RELATED ARTICLES:

•	Investigation of Cytotoxicity and Mutagenicity of Cement Dust Using Allium cepa Test

•	The Prophylactic Efficacy of Roselle [H. sabdariffa], Moringa [Moringa oleifera], Ginger [Z. officinale] and Ugwu [T. occidentalis] on the Hematology and Serum Protein of Albino Rats [Rattus norvegicus] Exposed to Cement Dust

•	Investigation of General Effects of Cement Dust to Clear the Controversy Surrounding its Toxicity

•	Variation in Exposure to Cement Dust in Relation to Distance from Cement Company

How to cite this article:

Modupe Olatunde Akinola, Ngozi Agatha Okwok and Tajudeen Yahaya, 2008. The Effects of Cement Dust on Albino Rats (Rattus norvegicus) Around West African Portland Cement Factory in Sagamu, Ogun State, Nigeria. Research Journal of Environmental Toxicology, 2: 1-8.

DOI: 10.3923/rjet.2008.1.8

URL: https://scialert.net/abstract/?doi=rjet.2008.1.8

COMMENT ON THIS PAPER

Navigation


		Online First
		Current Issue
		Previous Issues
		Editorial Board
		Submit a Manuscript
		Guide to Authors
		Subscribe to E-alerts

Indexed In


		ASCI-Database
		Asian Digital Library
		Google Scholar
		ProQuest

Science Alert