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Assessment of genotoxic effects of lead in occupationally exposed workers

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Abstract

The genotoxicological effects in 200 lead acid storage battery recycling and manufacturing industry workers in Hyderabad along with matched 200 controls were studied. The genetic damage was determined by comet, micronucleus (MN), and chromosomal aberration (CA) test in peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL). The MN test was also carried out in buccal epithelial cells (BECs). Pb in ambient air, blood Pb (B-Pb) concentrations, and hematological parameters were measured. The superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione (GSH), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and malondialdehyde (MDA) formed were also studied. The results of the present study showed that there was a statistically significant (P < 0.01) increase in mean percent tail DNA, frequency of CA, and MN in PBL as well as in BEC as compared to controls. Pb in ambient air and B-Pb concentrations were found to be significantly higher (P < 0.01). The hematocrit, hemoglobin, and red blood cell values were significantly lowered in Pb-exposed workers in comparison to controls. SOD, GPx, and CAT levels were significantly decreased while GSH and MDA levels increased in exposed group when compared to control group. The present study suggests that environmental health standards should be enforced to control Pb contamination from battery industries to reduce human health risk.

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Acknowledgments

This work was financially supported by the Council of Scientific Industrial Research (CSIR), New Delhi, India (Grant No. 60(0095)/11/EMR-II. Dated 11-05-2011). The authors express their sincere thanks to the Director, CSIR-IICT, Hyderabad, for providing facilities for this study. Further, Srinivas Chinde (SRF) is grateful to CSIR for the award of fellowship, and Monika Kumari (SRF) is grateful to the University Grant Commission (UGC), India. The authors express immense thanks to Mr. Shailendra Pratap Singh for his valuable suggestions during this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Toxicology Unit, Biology Division, Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, 500007, India

    Srinivas Chinde, Monika Kumari, Upadhyayula Suryanarayana Murty, Mohammed Fazlur Rahman, Srinivas Indu Kumari, Mohammed Mahboob & Paramjit Grover

  2. Department of Genetics, Osmania University, Osmania University Main Road, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, 500007, India

    Srinivas Chinde & Monika Kumari

  3. Human Genetics and Toxicology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, Osmania University, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, 500007, India

    Kanapuram Rudrama Devi

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  1. Srinivas Chinde
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  2. Monika Kumari
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  3. Kanapuram Rudrama Devi
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  4. Upadhyayula Suryanarayana Murty
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  5. Mohammed Fazlur Rahman
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  6. Srinivas Indu Kumari
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Correspondence to Paramjit Grover.

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Chinde, S., Kumari, M., Devi, K.R. et al. Assessment of genotoxic effects of lead in occupationally exposed workers. Environ Sci Pollut Res 21, 11469–11480 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-014-3128-9

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