Sub-acute pathological effects of calcium carbide as an artificial fruit ripening agent on various organs of albino mice

Introduction. Calcium carbide is the most commercially used artificial fruit ripener because it is inexpensive to produce though, involving the use of hazardous elements and can easily be purchased in local markets. This study aimed at investigating the architectural changes of organs extracted from albino mice fed with fruits that were ripened with calcium carbide. Material and methods. About 40 mice of both males and females, weighing between 18g-25g were randomly used for this study. They were divided into five (5) groups, made up of six mice namely Groups 1, 2, 3, 4 mild interstitial edema in the brain between the cardiocytes: mononuclear cell infiltration with cloudy swelling of the renal epithelium; dendritic cells in the brain. Discussion and conclusions. According to this study, eating fruits that are ripened with calcium carbide has adverse related health effects thus negatively altering the histological architecture of the organs such as the lungs, liver, kidney, heart as well as the brain. Fruit vendors must therefore use caution when applying calcium carbide and adhere to international regulations that strictly limit its use.