A novel study on carpet-dye-induced dermatitis and other changes in Rattus norvegicus

It is known that humidity enhances the growth of mites in carpets, mattresses and other household items. The association between exposure to house dust and diseases such as asthma, chronic rhinitis and atopic dermatitis has been shown in many individuals. Large quantities of carpet dyes are used in carpet industry located in Eastern Uttar Pradesh India. Nearly 90% of the carpets are manufactured in Eastern Uttar Pradesh and remaining 10% is produced in Kashmir and other places of India. Therefore, this area is important in huge dyeing and washing industry in which nearly 760 metric tons of dyes and dye supporting chemicals as well as washing chemicals are used per year. Present study has been conducted to see the adverse health effects of carpet dye black T supra which is being greatly used in carpet industry. In the present study, Gram mixed with 20 mg kg(-1) of b.wt. day(-1) sub-lethal dose of Black T Supra carpet dye was fed to Rattus norvegicus for three months and the symptoms of dermatitis in the form of hair fall in patches on surface of body started from fifth week onward. The area of patches of hair fall increased between 6-12th weeks. In controls, such effect was not observed. In addition, a little increase in body weight, cataract in eyes and desperate walking in experimental animals were observed after fifth week of feeding Black T Supra dye. In some cases, the correlation between exposure to carpet dye black T supra and symptoms is obvious.