Kerosene: A Study of Serum Vitamin Levels of Female Wistar Rats Chronically Exposed

Background: Kerosene is a commonly available product used for cooking and lighting purposes in many parts of Asia and Africa where it is sold in beverage bottles and jerry cans in both commercial and residential places because of inadequate filling stations. Therefore excessive exposure through both dermal and oral routes is common. Objective: This study is embarked upon to determine the impact of trace amount of kerosene on serum vitamin levels in female Wistar rats.

Methods: Kerosene (0.4 ml/kg body weight) was administered to rats either through the oral or dermal route daily for a period of 30 days and the levels of vitamins were estimated using the high performance liquid chromatography technique.

Results: Using Student t test only pantothenic acid was not significantly (p>0.05) different when oral or dermal group was compared with control, all other vitamins were significantly decreased (p<0.05), Moreover, using ANOVA, riboflavin, folic, niacin and vitamins A and D were more depleted in rats in oral route of administration than those in dermal group. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that exposure to this product either through the oral or dermal route may be detrimental to health as it induced vitamin depletion.