Nephro- and Hepato-TOXICITY of Common Household Insecticides Used in Nigeria

Background: The use of household insecticides for the eradication of insects especially mosquitoes in Nigeria is increasing. These insecticides are used without consideration of their adverse effect on human health.

Aim: This study sought to investigate the effect of common household insecticides used in Nigeria on renal and hepatic indices of Wistar rats.

Methodology: Thirty male Wistar rats were divided into five groups of six each and kept in different rooms. Rats in group 1 were exposed to Rambo, those in group 2 were exposed to Mortein, those in group 3 were exposed to Raid, those in group 4 were exposed to Baygon while those in group 5 were not exposed to any insecticide and served as the control group. The exposure was done twice a day via inhalation route. Throughout the experiment, animals were fed ad libitum with standard feed and drinking water. After twenty-one days of exposure, they were sacrificed after an overnight fast under diethyl ether as anesthesia. Blood samples were collected by cardiac puncture. Renal and hepatic indices were determined using standard methods.

Results: All the insecticides used in this study significantly increased renal and hepatic indices when compared with those of their respectively control at P < 0.05.

Conclusion: The result of this study showed that common household insecticides used in Nigeria have the propensity to induce nephro- and hepato-toxicity in Wistar rats.