Haemoglobin and Lung Total and Lysosomal Phosphatase Activity response to Passive Cigarette Smoking in the Albino Rat

Abstract

Smoking of ordinary cigarette exposes its active smokers to health hazards and the filter-tipped cigarette, is said to reduce the hazards. However, it is not certain if the filter-tipped cigarette reduces the hazards in passive smokers since they inhail the cigarette smoke through their nostrils regardless of whether the cigarette is filter-tipped or not. Comparisons were made of the effect of Benson & Hedges cigarette (filter-tipped) and Captain Black cigar (Non filter-tipped) smoke on rat plasma haemoglobin, carboxy-haemoglobin and nicotine levels, average body weight and daily feed intake, lung Total and lysosomal acid phosphatase activity. The results showed that passive smoking reduced body weight and caused elevation of plasma haemoglobin, carboxyhaemoglobin and nicotine levels. Total lung acid phosphatase activity and lysosomal acid phosphatase activity. Filter-tipped Benson & Hedges cigarette smoke curtailed plasma carboxyhaemoglobn level, total lung acid phosphatase activity and lysosomal acid phosphatase activity and caused elevation of plasma nicotine level compared with non-filter-tipped Captain Black cigar smoke.


KEY WORDS: Cigarette smoking, carboxyhaemoglobin; Total and lysosomal acid phosphatase activity.


Nigerian Journal of Health and Biomedical Sciences Vol.3(2) 2004: 123-130