Approaches to detecting individual exposure to carcinogens

Specific and sensitive methods are now available to detect DNA and protein adducts induced by a variety of carcinogens. These measurements of individual exposures are now starting to be used in cancer epidemiological studies. In this paper the requirements and the problems in implementation of the studies are discussed, as well as aspects of interpretation of the results in relation to assessments of past exposure and biological relevance to the disease process.