Municipal solid waste (MSW) generated in Ahmedabad, India, and the surrounding area is dumped at the Pirana site; rag pickers collect materials for re-sale. We have compared genotoxicity and oxidative stress in samples from women rag pickers working at this site, with women involved only in door-to-door waste picking (in residential areas near the university campus) as “controls”. The buccal Cytokinesis-Block Micronucleus (CBMN) assay showed significantly higher frequencies of Micronucleus (MN), Nucleoplasmic Bridges (NPB), and Nuclear Buds (NB) in the rag pickers than in the “controls”. The buccal Micronuclei Cytome (BMCyt) assay showed significantly higher prevalence of nuclear anomalies, such as micronucleus, karyorrhexis, karyolytic cells, and nuclear buds. Blood samples from the rag pickers showed lower levels of antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and glutathione reductase), lower total serum protein concentrations, and greater lipid peroxidation compared to the “control” group. Exposure to hazardous solid waste may lead to increased oxidative damage and genotoxicity; improved safety procedures and the use of personal protective equipment are recommended.

印度艾哈迈达巴德及周边地区产生的城市固体废物 (MSW) 被倾倒在皮拉纳场址；拾荒者收集材料以供转售。我们比较了在该地点工作的女性拾荒者的样本中的基因毒性和氧化应激，其中女性仅参与上门拾荒（在大学校园附近的住宅区）作为“对照”。口腔细胞分裂阻滞微核 (CBMN) 测定显示，抹布捡拾器中的微核 (MN)、核质桥 (NPB) 和核芽 (NB) 的频率明显高于“对照”。口腔微核细胞组 (BMCyt) 检测显示核异常的发生率显着升高，例如微核、核破裂、核溶解细胞和核芽。与“对照组”相比，采摘者的血液样本显示出较低水平的抗氧化酶（超氧化物歧化酶、过氧化氢酶、谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶和谷胱甘肽还原酶）、较低的总血清蛋白浓度和较高的脂质过氧化。接触危险固体废物可能导致氧化损伤和遗传毒性增加；建议改进安全程序并使用个人防护设备。