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.

The investigation was carried out in the peripheral lymphocytes of industrial painters who were exposed to dust and fumes of lead-based paints. Samples of peripheral blood were collected from 102 workers out of which 40 were smokers and 62 were nonsmokers. The painters in both the categories were divided in to 3 groups based on duration of exposure. Control data of 30 nonsmokers and 20 smokers belonging to the same socioeconomic group but not exposed to either radiation or toxic chemicals were studied. There was a significant increase in the frequency of chromosomal aberrations in the workers when compared to the controls. Further, smoking had an added effect on the frequency of aberrant metaphases.

Chromium was discovered in 1797 and found in all phases including air, water, and soil biota. Major uses of hexavalent chromium are metallurgical metal plating leather tanning etc. In spite its uses it has been reporting ITAR 1990 as a potent carcinogen teratogen and mutagen. The clastogenic potential of chromium has been well documented. In contrast to the activity of chromium, curcumin is a yellow colored derived from powdered rhizome Curcuma Longa is useful for the treatment of many disorders inflammation, skin wounds, certain tumors. Hence in the present investigation, studies were carried out to evaluate the protective role of curcumin on chromium induced gentoxicity in germ cells of male mice. In the present study four batches were of animals were maintained. Group II animals were given 60 mg/kg of chromium once in a week, whereas group III mice were given curcumin 5 and 7.5 mg /kg for five weeks. Group IV animals were pretreated with 5 and 7.5 mg/kg curcumin for 5 weeks plus chromium 60mg/kg once in a week. All the animals were sacrificed on the 35 th day and cauda epidymis was processed and slides were screened for the incidence of various types of sperm head abnormalities. A significant increase was observed in chromium treated animals. However when animals pretreated with curcumin, the percentage of sperm characters decreased the significance of two dose levels. Thus the results clearly indicate the protective effect of curcumin against chromium damage in mice.

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