title: Genotoxicity and oxidative stress in chromium-exposed tannery workers in North India.
abstract: Trivalent chromium (Cr) is an environmental contaminant, which is extensively used in tanning industries throughout the world and causes various forms of health hazards in tannery workers. Therefore, a cross-sectional study design was used to evaluate the DNA damage and oxidative stress condition in tannery workers exposed to Cr in North India. The study population comprised 100 male tanners in the exposed group and 100 healthy males (no history of Cr exposure) in the comparable control group. Baseline characteristics including age, smoking, alcohol consumption habits and duration of exposure were recorded via interviewing the subjects. Blood Cr level (measured by atomic absorption spectrophotometry), DNA damage (measured by comet assay) and oxidative stress parameters (malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH) and superoxide dismutase (SOD)) were estimated in both the groups. As a result of statistical analysis, exposed group showed significantly higher level of Cr (p < 0.0001), DNA damage (p < 0.0001), MDA (p < 0.0001), SOD (p < 0.05) and lower level of GSH (p < 0.001) when compared with controls. Smoking, alcohol consumption habits and age had no significant effect (p > 0.05) on DNA damage and oxidative stress parameters in both the groups. In simple and multiple correlation analysis, DNA damage and oxidative stress parameters showed significant correlation with Cr level and duration of exposure in exposed group. The findings of the present study revealed that chronic occupational exposure to trivalent Cr may cause DNA damage and oxidative stress in tannery workers.
authors.affiliation: Molecular and Human Genetics Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of Lucknow, Lucknow, India.
authors.forename: Khushboo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ambreen
authors.affiliation: Molecular and Human Genetics Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of Lucknow, Lucknow, India.
authors.forename: Faizan Haider
authors.initials: FH
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.affiliation: Toxicology Division, Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow, India.
authors.forename: Smrati
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bhadauria
authors.affiliation: Molecular and Human Genetics Laboratory, Department of Zoology, University of Lucknow, Lucknow, India panwarsk@yahoo.com panwar.molgen@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Sudhir
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kumar
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D017608:Chromium Compounds / Q000097:blood / Q000633:toxicity*; D020552:Comet Assay; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004249:DNA Damage / Q000187:drug effects*; D005978:Glutathione / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000097:blood; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000097:blood; D013633:Tanning
chemical_list: D017608:Chromium Compounds; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D005978:Glutathione