P-32 POSTLABELING OF DNA-ADDUCTS OF STYRENE-EXPOSED LAMINATION WORKERS

Lamination workers are exposed to high concentrations of styrene. A po stlabeling method was developed for the detection of styrene-specific DNA adducts of the workers. To synthesize a standard, styrene oxide wa s reacted with 2'-deoxyguanosine 3'-monophosphate (dGMP) and the O6-dG MP-adduct was isolated and characterized. The human samples were assay ed by the nuclease P1 version of the P-32-postlabeling technique, usin g magnet transfer of the adducts in chromatography. The human samples were spiked with the standards to ensure identification and quantitati on. In lamination workers the O6-adducts, adjusted for adduct recovery , were detected at a level of 5 adducts/10(8) nucleotides, over five t imes the level in the controls.