Biochemical effects of lead exposure on oxidative stress and antioxidant status of battery manufacturing workers of Western Maharashtra, India.
BACKGROUND
Lead induces oxidative stress and alters the antioxidant status of population exposed to high lead levels, i.e. battery manufacturing workers. The aim of this study was to know the current scenario of blood lead (PbB) levels and their effect on the oxidative stress parameter, i.e. serum lipid peroxide (LP), and antioxidant parameters, such as red blood cell (RBC)-superoxide dismutase (SOD), RBC-catalase (CAT), plasma ceruloplasmin (CP), and serum nitrite, of battery manufacturing workers.


METHODS
Forty-three battery manufacturing workers from Western Maharashtra, India, with ages between 19 and 42 years, were selected as study group and compared with 38 age-matched, healthy male subjects (control group). From both group subjects, 10 mL of blood sample was drawn by puncturing the antecubital vein, and PbB, serum LP, RBC-SOD, RBC-CAT, plasma CP, and serum nitrite were estimated using standard methods.


RESULTS
The PbB levels of the battery manufacturing workers were significantly higher (p<0.001, 1050%) as compared with the control subjects. The serum LP levels were significantly increased (p<0.001, 96.86%); all antioxidant status parameters such as RBC-SOD (p<0.001, -26.32%), RBC-CAT (p<0.001, -51.57%), and plasma CP (p<0.001, -35.13%) were significantly decreased; and serum nitrite levels (p<0.001, 154%) were significantly increased in the battery manufacturing workers as compared with the control subjects.


CONCLUSIONS
Despite modern techniques used to reduce lead exposure in battery manufacturing workers, PbB levels remain high, inducing oxidative stress and altering the antioxidant status of battery manufacturing workers.
Ganesh Haribhau
GH
Ghanwat
Arun Jalindar
AJ
Patil
Jyotsna A
JA
Patil
Mandakini S
MS
Kshirsagar
Ajit
A
Sontakke
Ram Krishna
RK
Ayachit
D000328:Adult; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism*; D002374:Catalase / Q000378:metabolism; D002570:Ceruloplasmin / Q000378:metabolism; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D015386:Hazardous Substances / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D007854:Lead / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000097:blood*; D008054:Lipid Peroxides / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D009573:Nitrites / Q000097:blood; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects*; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism; D055815:Young Adult
D000975:Antioxidants; D015386:Hazardous Substances; D008054:Lipid Peroxides; D009573:Nitrites; D007854:Lead; D002374:Catalase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D002570:Ceruloplasmin