Heavy metal status and oxidative stress in diesel engine tuning workers of central Indian population.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the oxidative stress induced due to heavy metal exposure. Exposed populations are selected from an engine tuning station and control from the same area with no occupational exposure.


METHODS
Standard methods were followed for enzymatic assay, and heavy metals in blood and urine were analyzed by using inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrophotometer after microwave digestion.


RESULTS
Changes in mean blood Pb, Cd, and Ni concentrations in blood and urine of exposed population of all age groups (20 to 35, 35 to 45, and 46 to 58 years) and exposure durations (< or =10, 11 to 20, and >20 years) were statistically not significant. However, exposed workers exhibited statistically significant higher antioxidant status in terms of serum glutathione-S-transferase activity, malondialdehyde level, and catalase activity.


CONCLUSIONS
The findings in this article suggest that occupational exposure to diesel exhaust of engine tuning workers causes induction of oxidative stress, which cannot be correlated with the heavy metals status in blood and urine of an exposed population.
Devi
Sivanesan Saravana
SS
Environmental Biotechnology Division, National Environmental Engineering Research Institute, Nagpur, India.
Biswas
Arup Ratan
AR
Biswas
Raka A
RA
Vinayagamoorthy
Nadimuthu
N
Krishnamurthi
Kannan
K
Shinde
Villas Motiram
VM
Hengstler
Jan G
JG
Hermes
Matthias
M
Chakrabarti
Tapan
T
D000328:Adult; D005742:Gasoline / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D001335:Vehicle Emissions / Q000633:toxicity*
D005742:Gasoline; D019216:Metals, Heavy; D001335:Vehicle Emissions