Abstract Theatrical fog is produced by a fog-machine which vaporizes a propylene glycol and water mixture (fog liquid). On leaving the machine and mixing with the cool external air, the vapor condenses and forms a dense fog. This fog finds application in the professional entertainment industry, fire service, armed forces and in churches for different purposes. Therefore, this inhalation toxicology study investigated the potential health effects of theatrical fog on wistar rats. A total of ninety female wistar rats were used for the study; Thirty rats each for acute (14 days), sub chronic (3 months) and chronic (6 months) studies respectively. Each set of 30 wistar rats was divided into 6 groups. While groups 2 to 5were exposed by whole body in a chamber to theatrical fog at the concentrations (15, 30, 60, 120 & 240 g/m3), 2 hours daily, 3 days per week for sub chronic and chronic studies respectively. Group 1 served as control. In the acute study the animals were exposed 2 hours daily for 14 days. The animals were sacrificed under chloroform anesthesia at the expiration of each of the study intervals and blood samples collected for biochemical analysis. The results obtained from the acute study showed significant change in ALT level. The data gathered from the sub chronic study also depicted dosage independent statistically significant elevations in the plasma levels of AST, ALT and TB respectively. The chronic study also revealed significant alterations in the plasma concentrations of; AST, ALT, TB and CB correspondingly. In conclusion, the finding from this study shows that propylene glycol based fog appears to be deleterious to the liver.
Keywords Special-effect, pyrotechnics, hygroscopic, humectants, vaporizers, propylene glycol, fog.