Histopathological Effects of Paint Effluent on Swiss Albino Mice (Mus musculus)

Abstract; Industrial effluents are seen as the most potential and hazardous waste containing compounds like heavy metals and nutrients that are toxic. In this study, the compositions of effluent from a paint industry were assessed along with its histopathological effects on the Swiss albino mice. The effluent was taken from Golden Key Paints found along Lagos State University (LASU) Road, Akesan, Lagos. Twenty (20) laboratory mice were obtained from Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, Yaba, Lagos. There were four mice (a male and three females) in each group comprising of five groups. Group one was the control group. They were given distilled water, while groups 2 to 5 had 25, 50, 75 and 100 % v/v of the paint effluent, respectively as the single source of water. By the 4th week, the control mice had live birth of 12 young mice (babies) while the mice treated with paint effluent had no birth. It was observed that at least a mouse died in each cage of the treated group. These observations could be attributed to the treatment concentrations. Histopathological examination of the tissues of treated mice showed severe necrosis and fibromatosis colli of the kidney, hepatic necrosis of the liver, lung atrophy, tubular atrophy of the heart, loss of myocardial striation and tissue hyalination due to the concentrations of the effluents. These results express the harmful effects of paint effluent on the treated mice and are sensitive index to changes in ecological conditions. This can serve as a good diagnostic tool in toxicological studies. People are therefore advised to handle paints with care and keep them away from children.