Genotoxic Response and Histological Alterations in Rat Lungs Exposed to Gasoline Generator Exhaust

Abstract

The epileptic power supply in Nigeria has caused a surge in the production of energy from other sources, including gasoline generator sets. The air pollution caused by the exhaust from these engines has been implicated in a variety of metabolic disorders and diseases, including cancer. This study aims at understanding the genotoxic and histopathological effects of gasoline generator exhaust exposure on the DNA and lungs of adult male wistar rats. Forty- eight (48) adult wistar rats were divided into four categories, each with 12 rats. The control rats were not exposed to gasoline generator exhaust while the test groups were exposed at 2, 4, and 8-hour intervals for a duration of 4, 8, and, 12 weeks respectively. Animals were euthanized using cervical dislocation and blood samples were obtained for genotoxic analysis via cardiac puncture while the lungs were preserved for 72 hours in 10% neutral buffered formalin and further processed for histological studies. The Olive Tail Moment (OTM) of the exposed rats showed significant variation across the exposure time points when compared to the unexposed control, indicating that exposure to gasoline generator exhaust negatively impacts the DNA. Additionally, histological investigations also indicated some cytopathic characteristics, such as peribronchiolar and perivascular infiltration by inflammatory cells, congestion, and thickening of blood vessels. The findings of this study showed that exposure to gasoline generator exhaust induces genotoxic damage with the severity of the damage occurring in a time/exposure-dependent manner. 

Keywords: Air pollution; Nigeria; Gasoline; Generator; Genotoxicity.