Research Article Open Access

MUTAGENICITY OF ZINC ELECTROPLATING INDUSTRY EFFLUENTS AND GENOTOXICITY IN LYMPHOCYTES OF ZINC ELECTROPLATING INDUSTRY WORKERS

Abstract

In the present study, physicochemical characteristics of zinc electroplating industry effluent were analysed. Ames Salmonella assay using the strains Salmonella typhimurium TA 98 and TA 100 was carried out to screen for the mutagenicity of zinc electroplating industry effluent. The health status of zinc electroplating industry workers was assessed by estimating various hematological parameters. The genotoxic effect of the effluent was assessed by studying the frequency of chromosomal aberration and Sister Chromatid Exchange (SCE) in peripheral lymphocytes of the zinc electroplating industry workers.Analysis of various physicochemical parameters revealed the hazardous effect of zinc electroplating industry effluent. Ames Salmonella assay confirmed the mutagenicity of zinc electroplating industry effluent. The analysis of various hematological parameters in zinc electroplating industry workers revealed decreased hemoglobin, Red Blood Cell (RBC) count and Packed Cell Volume (PCV) and increased White Blood Cell (WBC) count in the industry workers when compared to those of respective control subjects. Genotoxic studies in electroplating industry workers revealed higher frequencies of chromosomal aberration and SCE when compared to the control group participants

S. Kokila, V. BhuvaneswarI and G.P. Jeyanthi