title: Status of inflammatory biomarkers in the population that survived the Bhopal gas tragedy: a study after two decades.
abstract: Bhopal gas tragedy is considered as one of the world's worst industrial disaster. Approximately, 3,000-6,000 people died and 200,000 injured due to the leak of 40 tons of methyl isocyanate (MIC) gas from a pesticide plant. We aimed to decipher any persistent and subtle immunotoxic effects of MIC in the survivors of the tragedy. The study was divided into 3 groups i.e. group I (n=40); Age and gender matched non-exposed healthy controls recruited from places within the geographical region of Bhopal but from unaffected zones, group II (n=40); Age and gender matched non-exposed healthy controls recruited from places well outside geographical region of Bhopal and group III (n=40); Age and gender matched MIC exposed subjects from affected zones inside geographical region of Bhopal and the status of inflammatory biomarkers (IL-8, IL-1beta, IL-6, TNF, IL-10, IL-12p70 cytokines and C-reactive protein) were analysed. The results displayed a significant increase in the levels of all circulating inflammatory biomarkers in the MIC exposed group in comparison to non-exposed cohorts. A toxin induced genetic and/or epigenetic alteration seems to be the likely underlying cause. However, further studies are essential for both mechanistic understanding and clinical implications of these patterns.
authors.affiliation: Department of Research and Training, Bhopal Memorial Hospital & Research Centre, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Arpit
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bhargava
authors.forename: Ram Prakash
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Punde
authors.forename: Neelam
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pathak
authors.forename: Sunil
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dabadghao
authors.forename: Prabha
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Desikan
authors.forename: Aruna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jain
authors.forename: Kewal Krishan
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Maudar
authors.forename: Pradyumna Kumar
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Mishra
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000633:toxicity*; D055908:Bhopal Accidental Release; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000097:blood*; D007378:Interleukins / Q000097:blood; D017953:Isocyanates / Q000633:toxicity*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D015415:Biomarkers; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D007378:Interleukins; D017953:Isocyanates; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; C008461:methyl isocyanate