Aim: Benzene is a volatile organic compound known to be carcinogenic to humans. The present study was conducted to determine the effects of exposure to average indoor concentrations of benzene on liver and kidney of rats.
Methods: Adult male albino Wistar rats were exposed to 10, 30 and 50 ppm of benzene for 14 days. The effect on lipid peroxidation (LPO), nitric oxide (NO) and glutathione (GSH) as oxidative markers, in addition, liver and kidney function levels were determined in adult male rats.
Results: Benzene intoxication increased the activities of liver enzymes (alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase and alkaline phosphatase) and the bilirubin level, in addition to the levels of uric acid, urea and creatinine were increased in the serum. Moreover, benzene inhalation at 10, 30 and 50 ppm for 14 days in adult male rats enhanced LPO and NO production in both serum and liver with a concomitant reduction in GSH content.
Conclusions: On the basis of the above results, it can hypothesis that benzene inhalation caused hepatic and renal damages even at low concentration.
Key words: Benzene, oxidative stress, rats, volatile organic compounds
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