DNA adduct levels in peripheral blood lymphocytes of coke-oven workers

By means of nuclease P1-enhanced 32P-postlabeling assay we measured DNA adduct levels in samples of peripheral blood lymphocytes from coke-oven workers exposed to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. A large coded population (98 coke-oven workers and 17 nonoven workers from the same steel plant as controls) was examined and the relationships between the environmental exposure levels to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and the amounts of DNA adducts, as well as the association between DNA adduct levels and cigarette smoking, were considered. Significant levels of DNA adducts were detected in almost all coke-oven workers and the levels were significantly higher than in unexposed subjects. Cigarette smoke did not enhance the DNA adduct level significantly, even though almost all the subjects with the highest levels of adducts were smokers. Copyright © 1996 Princeton Scientific Publishing Co., Inc.