Current R&D activities:
Title of Activity: Immunotoxic and allergic properties of Benzene, Toluene and Xylene (BTX) mixture:
Benzene (B), toluene(T), and xylene (X) are the inherent ingredients of all fossil fuels and their derivatives. Owing to highly volatile they usually escape into the ambient air after evaporation from the commercial formulae, and after combustion of fossil fuels in the engines. Systemic immunotoxicity of individual agent is known at large, but the responses of lung associated immunity to inhalation exposure of individual agents and their mixture are less understood. In the present study, we therefore, investigated the histopathological alterations induced in the lungs, spleen, thymus and lung-associated lymph nodes of mice exposed to 200 ppm of B, T, X, and their BTX (1:1:1) mixture through inhalation route, 4h/d for 28 days. In addition, macrophages derived from lungs were also enumerated and evaluated for phagocytosis efficacy in mice exposed similarly. This study revealed that the BTX mixture is less toxic than benzene alone.