Free radical generation and lipid peroxidation among the dry cell industry workers exposed to carbon

A total of 75 healthy male dry cell industry workers exposed to carbon for 5, 8 and 10 years were compared with 48 controls matched for age and economic status with respect to free radical generation, lipid peroxidation and antioxidant levels. Lymphocytes were seperated from the whole blood and used for estimation of free radicals and antioxidants. Plasma lipid peroxidation products were estimated in the form of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances. Significant increase in free radical generation and lipid peroxidation products were observed in carbon exposed population than controls, and the increase was found to be significant with increase in the period of exposure. The levels of antioxidants i.e., superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase were found to decrease with the increase in exposure to carbon in industrial workers. These results suggest that exposure to carbon augments free radical generation, lipid peroxidation and promotes decline in antioxidant enzymes.