Analysis of urinary mutagens produced by cigarette-smoking baboons

Urine concentrates from 17 cigarette-smoking baboons and 12 sham puffers were analyzed for mutagenic activity in S. typhimurium tester strain TA1538. Both the proportion of animals exhibiting measurable mutagenic activity in urine and the mean level of mutagenic activity present were significantly greater in cigarette smoking baboons (P less than 0.05). Mutagenic activity in the urine of male and female cigarette-smoking baboons was not significantly different. Age and smoking history did not, but mean blood carboxyhemoglobin did, correlate with mutagenic activity of the urine concentrate from individual animals. Fractionation of the urine concentrates on silicic acid separated the concentrate into fractions that were more active in TA100 and others that were more active in TA1538. Further fractionation was accomplished by HPLC.