Formaldehyde Inhalation and Its Effects on Plasma Protein Levels in Wistar Rats Exposed for Different Duration

ABSTRACT Formaldehyde (CH₂O) is a highly reactive, volatile compound widely used in industrial, medical, and household applications. Despite its usefulness, it poses significant health risks, particularly when inhaled over prolonged periods. This study aims to investigates the impact of formaldehyde inhalation on plasma protein levels in Wistar rats subjected to varying exposure durations. In this study, fifteen rats were divided into three groups (A, B and C): a control group (A) with no exposure and two experimental groups exposed to formaldehyde vapor for 2 (B)and 4 hours(C) daily over four weeks. At the end of the experiment, the animals were sacrificed under chlorofoam anesthsia and blood samples were collected and analyzed for total protein, albumin, globulin, and albumin-globulin (A/G) ratio using standard biochemical techniques. Statistical analysis was done using Graphpad prism version 8.0.1. Results were presented as mean ± standard error of mean (SEM). Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to compare the mean of test and control values, while Post-hoc test was done using Dunnette’s multiple comparison test and a P-value of less than 0.05 was considered as statistically significant. The results obtained showed a significant decrease in serum albumin levels and A/G ratio in exposed rats compared to the control group, while total protein and globulin levels remained relatively stable. The reduction in albumin suggests impaired liver function.