Molecular and genetic damage from environmental tobacco smoke in young children

To assess the risks of early life exposure to environmental tobacco smoke ( ETS), we tested whether four biomarkers in peripheral blood were associated with home ETS exposure in Hispanic and African-American children. The biom arkers included cotinine (a metabolite of nicotine) and three indicators of molecular and genetic damage from mutagens/carcinogens, protein adducts fo rmed by the carcinogens 4-aminobiphenyl (4-ABP) and polycyclic aromatic hyd rocarbons (PAHs), and sister chromatid exchanges (SCEs), We also explored p ossible ethnic differences in biomarkers, The study cohort comprised 109 Hi spanic and African-American preschool children (1-6 years of age). Plasma c otinine was analyzed by gas chromatography, 4-ABP-hemoglobin adducts by gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy, PAM-albumin adducts by ELISA, and SCEs b y cytogenetic techniques. Data on the amount of smoking by mothers (average 10.5 cigarettes per day) and other household members and regular visitors (average 6.5 cigarettes per day) were obtained by interview-administered qu estionnaires. Cotinine, CABP-hemoglobin adducts, and PAM-albumin were signi ficantly higher (P < 0.05) in the ETS-exposed children compared with the un exposed. SCEs were marginally higher (P = 0.076). African-American children had higher levels of cotinine (P = 0.059) and PAM-albumin (P = 0.02) than Hispanic children, after controlling for exposure to ETS, These results ind icate molecular and genetic damage in minority children with relatively low exposure to ETS, They highlight the need for smoking prevention and cessat ion programs in women of reproductive age and in families with young childr en.