Benzo[a]pyrene diol-epoxide DNA adducts and levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in autoptic samples from human lungs

Benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) and other polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) whic h are present in cigarette smoke, are common air and food genotoxic contami nants and possible human carcinogens. We measured the following PAH levels: benzo[a]anthracene, benzo[b]fluoranthene, benzo[k]fluoranthene, BaP, diben zo[a,h]anthracene, benzo[g,h,i]perylene as well as (+/-)syn and anti BaP di ol-epoxide (BPDE) DNA adducts in autopsy samples from the lungs of non-smok ers, ex-smokers and smokers who had lived in Florence, Italy. PAH levels in lung tissue were similar in all groups, with the exception of dibenzo[a,h] anthracene (DBA), which was higher in lung samples from smokers (n = 10, 0. 18 +/- 0.17 ng/g d.w, mean +/- S.D.) compared to non-smokers (n = 15, 0.046 +/- 0.025 ng/g d.w) (P < 0.05), whereas ex-smokers (n = 5), had intermedia te levels (0.07 +/- 0.03 ng/g d.w). The average level of total BPDE-DNA add ucts was 4.46 +/- 5.76 per 10(8) bases in smokers, 4.04 +/- 2.37 per 10(8) in ex-smokers and 1.76 +/- 1.69 per 10(8) in non-smokers. The levels of non -smokers were significantly different (P < 0.05) from the levels of the smo kers and ex-smokers combined. Total BPDE-DNA adducts were correlated with B aP levels in the lung samples in which both determinations were obtained (r = 0.63). Our results demonstrate that the biological load of PAHs due to e nvironmental pollution is similar in individuals who smoke and those who do not, but BPDE-DNA adducts are higher in smokers and ex-smokers compared to non-smokers. This study further confirms the usefulness of BPDE-DNA adduct levels determination in the lungs from autopsy samples for monitoring long -term human exposure to BaP, a representative PAH. (C) 1998 Elsevier Scienc e Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.