Effects of calcium carbide on some biochemical parameters of liver and kidney of Wister albino rats

Abstract

The indiscriminate use of calcium carbide to force fruits to ripen is a threat to consumers’ health. This study evaluates some biochemical changes in liver and kidney induced by ingestion of calcium carbide in rats. Therats were randomly assigned to a control group which received only food and water and a test group which, in addition to food and water, were fed calcium carbide daily for a period of 4 weeks. After the initial two weeks three rats from each group were separated into other corresponding cages where exposure to calcium carbide was discontinued for another two weeks. The animals from each group were sacrificed after the fourth week and blood was collected by cardiac puncture for biochemical analysis. Results obtained showed significant (p˂0.05) increase in values of ALP, AST and creatinine after four weeks of administration and after two weeks withdrawal of calcium carbide. A significant decrease (p˂0.05) in ALT after four weeks of administration and after two weeks withdrawal of calcium carbide was also observed. There was no significant (p˃0.05) change in the value of urea after four weeks of administration of calcium carbide, however, the values fluctuated significantly after two weeks withdrawal of calcium carbide. Ingestion ofcalcium carbide is toxic to the liver and kidney of laboratory rats and may be deleterious to human health following long-term exposure.