Abstract
Lead, a ubiquitous element in the environment as a result of mining and industrialization, is found as a contaminant in humans. Lead is one of the heavy metals increasingly used for the petrol additives, and for various industrial purposes such as manufacture of storage batteries, solder manufacture, printing, smelting, painting, etc. In this study the lead genotoxicity was studied by using one of the recommended biomarker to assess environmental lead exposure is micronucleus assay. The blood samples were collected from 50 workers and 40 aged matched controls (5mL of venous blood from each lead exposed individual in heparinized sterile bottles). The battery manufacturers showed a significant increase in the frequency of micronuclei in comparison to that people who were not exposed to any toxicants. The results of present investigation indicate the clastogenic nature of lead in in vivo human lymphocytes of occupationally exposed population.