Effects of acute and sub-chronic ammonium nitrate exposure on rat liver and blood tissues

Use of fertilizers like ammonium nitrate (NH sub(4)NO sub(3)) for agricultural purposes has increasingly contaminated the ecosystem with nitrate and/or nitrites. Nitrite is a toxic substance that can cause multiple physiological effects if allowed to build up to high concentrations in animals such as methemoglobinemia. This work is concerned with the study of short term (3 days intoxication) and midterm (over 21 days) NH sub(4)NO sub(3) exposure to wistar rats at the dose of 250 mg/Kg. Under these conditions, some hematological and biochemical parameters were affected. Methemoglobinemia, increase in serum nitrates as well as a hepatic cytotoxicity indicated by an increase in bilirubin and transaminases levels were observed.