Histopathological Effects of Mosquito Coil smoke on the Lungs, Kidney and Liver of Wistar Rats

Abstract

Malaria is a life-threatening disease spread to humans by some types of mosquitoes. It is mostly found in tropical countries. Use of mosquito coils to repel mosquito has been a common practice especially in developing countries because it is cheap and accessible to the poor. However, the combustion of mosquito coils generates undesirable emissions that pose health risks. This research assesses the histopathological effects of mosquito coil smoke on lungs, kidney and liver tissue of wistar rats. An experimental study was conducted using sixteen (16) wistar rats. The rats were randomly divided into six (6) groups A, B, C, D, E, and F. The rats in group A (control group) were not exposed to any form of intervention, while the test groups B, C, D and E, each with 3 rats, were exposed to mosquito coil smoke for 15mins, 10mins, 5mins and 2mins respectively for a period of twenty-one (21) days. Rats in group F were exposed to A4 paper smoke for the same period. At the end of the experiment, the animals were sacrificed and the organs were harvested, processed, stained with hematoxylin and eosin, and then microscopically examined. Histological examination of the liver, kidney and lungs in the control group did not show any morphological changes. The liver and kidney in groups B, C, D, E and F also showed a normal morphology. However, lung sections of the test group B, C and D showed areas of inflammation and vascular congestion, with dilation of alveoli. Tissue sections of lung of test group E showed areas of mild inflammation. Lung sections from animals in test group F showed various sites of inflammation, vascular congestion and thickening of alveoli walls.  The findings show that Mosquito coil smoke has adverse effects on lungs of wistar rats.