Increased blood lead level induces oxidative stress and alters the antioxidant status of spray painters

Abstract

AbstractBackgroundThe aim of this study was to know the present scenario of blood lead level and its effect on serum lipid peroxide and antioxidant parameters of spray painters.MethodsWe included 42 male spray painters and 50 control subjects with an age range of 20–45 years. Blood lead level, serum lipid peroxide and antioxidant parameters, i.e. erythrocyte catalase, superoxide dismutase (SOD), plasma ceruloplasmin, nitric oxide, uric acid and bilirubin, were quantified by standard methods.ResultsWe observed the significant elevated blood lead (p < 0.001, 458%), lipid peroxide (p < 0.001, 170%), uric acid (p < 0.001, 25.6%) and bilirubin (p < 0.01, 24.5%) and the significant decrease in antioxidant enzymes like SOD (p < 0.001, −50.4%), catalase (p < 0.001, −34.33%), ceruloplasmin (p < 0.001, −32.7%) and nitric oxide (p < 0.001, −39.58%) in the study group as compared to control. A significant positive correlation coefficient (r) of blood lead level with lipid peroxide (r = 0.44, p < 0.001), uric acid (r = 0.33 p < 0.05) and bilirubin (r = 0.35, p < 0.05) and a negative correlation with SOD (r = −0.32, p < 0.05), catalase (r = −0.33, p < 0.05), ceruloplasmin (r = −0.27, p < 0.05) and nitric oxide (r = 0.30, p < 0.05) were observed.ConclusionsElevated blood lead level induces serum lipid peroxide and alters the antioxidant enzymes of spray painters. Therefore, it is necessary to reduce the blood lead level by taking proper precautions while spraying the paints, and additional antioxidant supplementation like vitamin C, multivitamin and multiminerals will be useful in reducing oxidative stress.