DNA Damage in Workers Occupationally Exposed to Lead, Using Comet Assay

Abstract

Lead is one of the most clinically important heavy metals, because it induces a broad range of physiological, biochemical, and genetical dysfunctions. Occupational exposure to lead leads to increased frequency of genetic system in human beings. In the present study the DNA damage among the workers occupationally exposed to lead was analyzed using peripheral blood lymphocyte by comet assay. The result of this study shows increased levels of DNA damage among experimental subjects. The habit of cigarette smoking among the workers has a synergistic effect on inducing DNA damage.