Detection of benzo[a]pyrene-DNA adducts from leukocytes from heavy smokers

Benzo[a]pyrene is a cigarette smoke component that is metabolized in the human body to the diol-epoxide derivative benzo[a]pyrene-trans- 7,8-dihydrodiol-9,10-epoxide (BPDE-I), which is the final carcinogen. BPDE-I binds covalently to DNA, producing BPDE-I-DNA adducts. A competitive immunoenzymetric assay was used to measure BPDE-I-DNA adducts in blood samples from 58 heavy smokers, 32 men and 26 women, attending a smoking cessation clinic. Cigarette consumption was evaluated based on urinary continine levels. None of the subjects worked in jobs involving exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (e.g., benzo[a]pyrene). Concentrations of BPDE-I-DNA adducts varied with cigarette consumption, ranging from 10.00 to 28.20 fmol/50 micrograms of DNA.