FORMALDEHYDE INHALATION AND ITS EFFECTS ON TOTAL WHITE BLOOD CELL COUNT AND ITS DIFFERENTIALS IN WISTAR RATS EXPOSED FOR DIFFERENT DURATION

Formaldehyde (FA) is a colorless, strong-smelling, and highly reactive chemical compound that exhibits toxic properties at room temperature. This study investigates the effects of inhalation of formaldehyde on total WBC counts and their differentials in Wistar rats. The research involved fifteen (15) male Wistar rats of similar age, weighing between 130g and 160g. These animals were divided into three groups of five rats each. Group A was not exposed to formaldehyde throughout the experiment, while Group B was exposed to formaldehyde gas for 2 hours daily, and Group C was exposed for 4 hours daily, for period of four (4) weeks. After four weeks, the animals were sacrificed, and blood samples were collected from abdominal aorta and the heart through cardiac puncture. The samples were placed in EDTA containers and analyzed using a Hematology Analyzer (SMT-50) to measure total WBC counts and differential counts. Statistical analysis was done using Graphpad prism version 8.0.1. Results are presented as mean ± standard error of mean (SEM). Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to compare the mean of test and control values, and a P-value of less than 0.05 was considered as statistically significant. The results indicated that formaldehyde exposure for four weeks did not result in significant changes in total WBC counts or their differentials. In conclusion, these findings suggest that short-term inhalation of formaldehyde may not cause immediate immunological effects.