Intraindividual variations of DNA adduct levels in humans

Reports on intraindividual changes of DNA adduct levels in humans are rare. Most of the data available in the literature are from polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and are measured in white blood cells with P-32-postlab eling or immunochemical assays. Surprisingly, environmental exposure can ha ve a larger effect on PAH adduct levels than occupational exposure, food or smoking. Highest (13-fold) summer/winter increments, due to indoor hearing were observed in Gliwice, Poland. Further studies of environmental PAH exp osure confirm the environmental influence on intraindividual changes in PAH s-DNA adduct levels: studies of the Teplice program, (Czech Republic) and s tudies with US soldiers, stationed in Germany who went for a 8-week period of duty to Kuwait. Variations in occupational exposure, e.g., changing of a node material in aluminium plants (elevation factor 3.94), layoffs, reduced working hours in iron foundries or vacation also led to intraindividual ch anges in PAH adduct levels. Increase in PAH adduct levels after consumption of charcoal broiled meat evidently depends on individual susceptibility, e .g., polymorphism In one person a 7.4-fold increment was observed. PAH addu ct levels were not significantly influenced by smoking cessation whereas si ster chromatid exchanges significantly decreased. Changes in occupational e xposure to styrene in lamination plants, e.g., due to vacation, did not sig nificantly influence styrene-O-6-dG adduct levels in lymphocytes and granul ocytes as determined by P-32-postlabeling. Increase of N7-methylguanine and O-6-methylguanine levels were followed in white blood cells during treatme nt of cancer patients with dacarbazine and allowed insights into pharmacoki netic properties. According to a rough estimation the high increment in the PAHs-DNA adduct level of about 13 observed in Gliwice (see above) would re sult in a tentative increase in cancer risk from about 1 death/10(7) inhabi tants to approximately 10 deaths/10(7) inhabitants which, in general, is co nsidered as acceptable. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.