4^th Global Summit on Toxicology August 24-26, 2015 Philadelphia, USA

Erhunmwunse Nosakhare Osazee has completed his MSc at the University of Benin, Benin City and is currently a PhD student in same university. He is 34 years old and currently an Assistant Lecturer in the Department of Animal and Environmental Biology, University of Benin. He has published more than 10 papers in reputed journals.

There is little information on the levels of PAH in smoked fish widely marketed in Benin City. This study was aimed to investigating the profile of 16 priority Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon (PAH) in two smoked fishes (Caranx segenallus Curvier and Scomber scombrus) commonly consumed in Benin City. The fishes were randomly purchased from three major markets in Benin metropolis. The samples were prepared by deboningand cut into small pieces, milled and packed in aluminum foil and stored in ice prior to further analysis. 5g of the representative samples were collected and analyzed for PAH and its congeneers using Agilent 6890 series Gas Chromatography in the laboratory. The result from the investigation of Caranx senegallus Cuvier, revealed that twelve of the sixteen congeneers where discovered with pyrene having the lowest value of 73.344ug/kg and Benzo(g,h,i)perylene having the highest value of 1689.9 ug/kg. For the PAH8 congeneers considered to be possibly carcinogenic and genotoxic to human, seven were present in this study. Of the sixteen investigated congeneers, only eleven were present in Scombers comberus, Chysene occurred with mean concentration of 50.37 ug/kg as the lowest value and Benzo(g,h,i)perylene having the highest value at 1904.3 ug/kg. For the PAH8 congeneers only six of the congeneers were found in this study. The finding revealed that all values of the congeneers exceeded the permitted maximum limit of the EU (2006) suggesting that constant consumption of these food stuffs could lead to possible cancer or non-cancer toxic effect.

Francis Okonkwo is a PhD student of Medical Research-International Health with special emphasis on Environmental and Occupational Toxicology at the Center for International Health of Ludwig Maximillians University, Munich Germany. His areas of interest include but not limited to pesticide toxicity and occupational safety and health especially as regarding exposure to toxicants in the work environment. He teaches toxicology at the Plateau State University, Bokkos, Nigeria.

An occupational group in abattoirs all over Nigeria engage in the use of burning scrap tyres to de-fur cow hide popularly known as ‘ponmo’ or ‘kanda’ meant for human consumption. These young people are exposed to many toxic particulate matter like carbon monoxide (CO), sulfur oxides (SO2), oxides of nitrogen (NOx), volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and other hazardous air pollutants (HAPs), such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), dioxins, furans, hydrogen chloride, benzene, and metals such as arsenic, cadmium, nickel, zinc, mercury, chromium, and vanadium. Emitted also are polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) which are a group of ubiquitous chemicals known or suspected to be human carcinogens. This study seeks to determine the extent of environmental contamination of the abattoir and surrounding environment with PAHs and other contaminants coupled with the investigation of the level of occupational exposure of the ‘Roasters’ to these chemicals through determination of urinary biomarker levels, presence of micronuclei in buccal swabs and the determination of lung function through spirometry. Adequate intervention will be applied and hopefully the study will lead to formulation of better policies protecting the workers and the environment from the effects of this practice.

Miss Chinelo Miriam Ozojie had a B.Sc. degree in Biochemistry in 2011 from University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria. She won a National Essay writing competition in 2004, and a ‎Certificate of endorsement for outstanding performance by the Institute of Mathematics, Nigeria. She is presently a M.Sc. research student in University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria

Comparative effect of Costus afer stem juice (CASJ) and ascorbic acid (ASC) on kerosene induced haematotoxicity in female albino Wistar rats was assessed in this study. Twenty eight female albino Wistar rats, weighing 150 – l80 g were used in the study. The rats were distributed into four groups, with seven rats each. Group 1 served as the control, while group 2 was orally exposed to 2mg/kg body weight (bwt) of kerosene for 21 days without being treated with CASJ and ASC. Group 3 was orally exposed to 2mg/kg bwt of kerosene and treated with 7.5mg/kg bwt of CASJ, while group 4 was orally exposed to 2mg/kg bwt of kerosene and treated with 210mg/kg bwt of ASC daily for 21 days. At the end of the experimental period, the weights of the animals in each group were taken, the animals sacrificed, and blood samples collected through cardiac puncture for hematological analyses. Hematological parameters were determined using an auto analyzer. The results of this study showed that exposure to kerosene resulted in a significant (p<0.05) reduction in body weight and growth rate, RBC, platelets, Hb, PCV, as well as increase in WBC and some differential cells in female rats. The results of this study indicated that exposure to kerosene induced haematotoxicity in female rats. However, administration of CASJ and ASC to female rats exposed to kerosene produced a comparable significant (p<0.05) protection against kerosene induced haematotoxicity in the rats. It may be concluded that CASJ and ASC possess a comparable protection potential against kerosene induced haematotoxicity in female rats.

Ali S Al-Sarar has completed his PhD from Ohio State University and Postdoctoral studies from Stanford University School of Medicine. He is an Associate Professor at King Saud University. He has published more than 25 papers in reputed journals.

Lambda-cyhalothrin is a broad-spectrum pyrethroid insecticide. The reproductive toxicity and histopathological effects of lambda-cyhalothrin was studied in male mice. Oral administration of lambda-cyhalothrin to adult male mice at 3 doses (0.2, 0.4, and 0.8 mg/kg body weight) for 6 weeks caused a significant reduction in the weight of the seminal vesicles and an increase in the count of morphologically abnormal spermatozoa. The highest dose caused a significant reduction in the epididymal sperm count compared with the control. The medium and the high doses decreased the percentages of live and motile spermatozoa compared with control mice. Histopathological examination of the testes, liver, spleen, and kidneys showed dose-related degenerative damage in lambda-cyhalothrin-treated mice. The results indicate that lambda-cyhalothrin has reproductive toxicity, hepatotoxicity, splenotoxicity, and nephrotoxicity in male mice at the tested doses.

Uboh F E is an Associate Professor and the head of the research team, is the past head of department of Biochemistry. He has a passion for research in the area of toxicology. Ekwere, M R is a senior lecturer and a PhD student of Uboh F E. He has a teaching and research experience in Biochemistry for 20 years. Brownson and Abang are students under the supervision of Uboh, assisted by Ekwere.

The effect of oral administration of a mixture of cypermethrin and dimethoate (organophosphate and pyrethroid groups of pesticide, commonly called uppercott) on serum sex hormonal profile of male and female rats was assessed. 10 mg/kg and 20 mg/kg body weight of uppercott were given to separated male (M) and female (F) rats grouped as F2, M2 andF3, M3respectively. Rats in groups F1, M1 served as control. After 28 days, the animals were sacrificed; sera collected and assayed for follicle stimulating hormones (FSH), Luteinizing hormones (LH), testosterone, estradiol and progesterone. Results showed that all serum sex hormones, for both male and female rats, were significantly altered as doses increased from control via 10 mg/kg to 20 mg/kg. FSH and LH were significantly reduced (p<0.05) in both male and female rats (M1FSH, M2FSH and M3FSH were 3.36±0.32 mIU/ml, 2.32±0.31mIU/ml and 1.9±0.15mIU/ml and F1FSH-3.32±015, F2FSH- 2.48±0.17 and F3FSH, 1.96±0.13. Estradiol and progesterone in the female rats; and testosterone for male rats decreased significantly (p<0.05). Toxic effects of uppercott on testosterone and progesterone male and female rats respectively, were not significantly different (p>0.05) from each other. Uppercott significantly reduced all sex hormonal levels especially at higher dose. Constant exposure to high concentration of organophosphate and pyrethroid pesticides could have toxic effects on male and female fertility and reduce reproductive intergrity. A limit should be placed on the use of such toxic pesticides/insecticides.