Anthropometric parameters, lipid peroxidation and antioxidants in auto-rickshaw drivers.

Anthropometric and several biochemical parameters were estimated in smoking and alcoholic-smoking auto-drivers and compared with normal auto-rickshaw drivers and normal subjects. Auto-drivers had a lower height, weight, and body mass index (BMI) compared with age-matched normal subjects. Plasma thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), total cholesterol, TC/HDL-C ratio, and lactic acid increased significantly and ascorbic acid, alpha-tocopherol, reduced glutathione (GSH), hemoglobin, and HDL-cholesterol decreased significantly in auto-drivers when compared with normal subjects. Total cholesterol and TC/HDL-C ratio increased significantly in smoking auto-drivers; TBARS increased and ascorbic acid, alpha-tocopherol, GSH, and hemoglobin decreased significantly in alcoholic-smoking auto-drivers. Exposure of automobile pollutants associated with habits (cigarette smoking, alcohol) causes profound alterations in the levels of lipid peroxidation, antioxidants, hemoglobin, total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, TC/HDL-C ratio and lactic acid.