Assessment of genotoxic damage in lead exposed battery manufacturers by Challenge Assay

Exposure to high levels of lead compounds is öne of the most frequent types of exposure in industry. in spite of determining lead exposure in different industry branches, this exposure can be observed intensively in battery manufacturers. According to IARC report, lead compounds are classified as possibly carcinogenic to humans in 2B group. in recent years, it has been widely discussed that lead possibly exhibits its genotoxic potential indirectly and interferes with the DNA repair processes. Lead ions show their indirect effects by interfering with the enzymes which have role on the DNA process and repair. This study was comprised of 23 battery manufacturers who were occupationally exposed to lead and 23 non-occupationally exposed age-matched control individuals. The lead exposed battery manufacturers had statistically significant (p<0,0001) blood lead levels (72.66 ± 34.14) compared with the control group (4.41 + 2.07) levels measured by the Atomic Absorption Spectrometer. Although the chromosomal aberration frequency in exposed (0.014 ± 0.011) and control (0.008 + 0.010) group were not significant (p>0,05) by Standard aberration technique, the Challenge assay which is used as the biomarker of susceptibility demonstrated statistically significant increased (p<0.05) chromosomal aberrations in exposed group (0.118 ± 0.038) as compared with control group (0.093 ± 0.023). The chromosomal aberration frequency obtained by the Standard chromosomal aberration technique in lead exposed group had no statistical correlation with the blood lead levels (r=0.3680, p>0.05), however statistical correlation (r=0.4325, p<0,05) was observed with Challenge assay. The aberration frequency in control group was not correlated with the blood lead levels (standard chromosomal aberration technique r=0.2282, p>0.05; Challenge assay r=-0.2764, p>0,05) in both techniques. Our study results demonstrate that when a significant response could not be obtained by standard chromosomal aberration technique, a more sensitive determination can be made by Challenge assay. The DNA repair capacity of battery manufacturers were reduced when compared with control group by Challenge assay. The difference in the DNA repair capacity in various exposures can be sensitively determined by Challenge assay which is öne of the biomarkers of susceptibility. The technique can be utilized clinically, occupational employment opportunities and health care.