Lead plays a significant role in modern industry. This metal is related to a
broad range of physiological, biochemical and behavioural dysfunctions. The genotoxic
effects of lead have been studied both in animals and humans in in vitro systems
but results were contradictory. The aim of this study was to investigate the association
between DNA damage and occupational exposure to lead in workers. The study population
consisted of 62 employees of metalworks exposed to lead in the southern region of
Poland. The control group consisted of 26 office workers with no history of occupational
exposure to lead. The concentration of lead (PbB) and zincprotoporphyrin (ZPP) in blood
samples were measured. The DNA damage was analyzed in blood lymphocytes using
alkaline comet assay. The level of DNA damage was determined as the percentage of
DNA in the tail, tail length and tail moment. The lead exposure indicators were significantly
higher in lead exposed group: PbB about 8.5 times and ZPP 3.3 times. Also, the
percentage of DNA in the tail (60.3 ± 14 vs. 37.1 ± 17.6), comet tail length (86.9 ± 15.49
vs. 73.8 ± 19.12) and TM (57.8 ± 17.82 vs. 33.2 ± 19.13) were significantly higher in the
study group when compared with the controls; however, the difference between the subgroups
was only 5–10%. Years of lead exposure positively correlated with all comet
assay parameters (R = 0.21–0.41). Both mean and current PbB and ZPP were correlated
with tail DNA % and TM (R = 0.32; R = 0.33; R = 0.24; R = 0.26 and R = 0.34; R = 0.33;
R = 0.28 and R = 0.28, respectively). This study shows that occupational exposure to lead
is associated with DNA damage and confirmed that comet assay is a rapid, sensitive
method suitable for biomonitoring studiesa