Toxicological Impact of Inhaling Burned Plastic Bag Exhausts on Japanese Quail Birds and the Protective Role of Vitamins E and A.

Plastic combustion under open-fire conditions can generate smoke and airborne particulate where they can be inhaled by humans and animals and deposited in soil and surface water in addition to plants. This study was conducted to evaluate the role of vitamin E and A mixture to alleviate the toxic effects of burned plastic bag exhausts on some hematological and biochemical parameters of Japanese quail birds. A total number of 210 seven day-old Japanese quail birds nearly similar body weights (12.7 gm) were randomly divided into 3 groups, 70 birds in each. Birds of 1st group were fed commercial diet and served as control (G1). Birds of the two other groups (G2, G3) were exposed for 5 days/week to exhausts of burned plastic bags (150 gm black bags/48 m3) for five weeks. Birds of the 2nd group fed commercial diet without any additives while, the3rd group fed commercial diet plus mixture of vit.E (120 mg/kg diet) and vit.A (1500 IU/kg diet). The results showed that birds exposed to burned plastic bags exhausts significantly decreased body weight, haemoglobin concentrations (Hb), red blood cell counts (RBCs),white blood cell counts (WBCs),spleen weight, bursa weight, total haemagglutinine antibody (HA) titre against sheep red blood cells (SRBCs), activity of reduced glutathione (GSH), calcium (Ca) and potassium (K). There were significant increases in the levels of triiodothyronine (T3) malondialdehyde (MAD), aspartate transaminase (AST), alkalin phosphatase (ALP),urea, uric acid creatinine, magnesium (Mg), phosphorus (P), sodium (Na) and aldosterone inG2 compared to the control group. Administration of antioxidant vitamins combined with burned plastic bag exhausts improved most of these parameters. In conclusion these results indicate that burned plastic bag exhausts mainly affect most biochemical and hematological parameters. Therefore, plastic should not be burned but it should be recycled when possible or sent to the landfill if no recycling options are available. In addition vit.E and vit. A reduce toxic effect of burning plastic in opening area.