Geophagy: histopathological perspective of an unusual craving for clay

Abstract

Due to the increasing number of industries many toxic and heavy metals are getting mixed with soil. Since many women have the tendency of eating a special type of clay, which is known as calabash chalk, it has become very important to find its effect on health.. So this study aimed to find out the effect of calabash chalk on different organs of Swiss albino rats. The importance becomes double when it is about pregnant women as the fetus can be affected by any change in the organ of the mother. To find out the effect of calabash chalk on different organs this study was performed. To study was conducted for 70 days and with a total of 24 rats (male and female) albinowistar rats weighing 135-185g were kept in laboratory. These 24 rats were divides into four groups according to dose. The groups were- control group, groups treated with 0.5ml, 1.0ml and 1.5ml of the suspension made with calabash chalk. The rats that were in control group were receiving only normal saline and rest of the groups were receiving the suspension according to the dose. The effect of temperature was tried to keep to the possible extent. After 70 days the rats were sacrificed and at that time some specific organs were collected. The organs that were taken were- liver, kidney, brain, lung and ovary. The collected organs were immediately kept in plastic container containing formalin. After that these were taken for the preparation of making gross which is taking sections from the organs, blocks and from those blocks slides were prepared carefully. After this, the slides were examined using microscope and photographs were taken. The changes in the organs were not much significant but still there was a slight change in the organs of those rats.