DNA adducts in human placenta as biomarkers for environmental pollution, analysed by the P-32-HPLC method

During pregnancy, mothers are exposed tr, complex chemical mixtures, such a s air pollution and smoke from incomplete combustion. In this study DNA add ucts were measured in human placentas From 20 mothers, Environmental exposu re and several possible biomarkers in relation to levels of DNA adducts wer e measured. Placental aromatic and bulky DNA adducts were measured with the P-32-HPLC method. Mothers living in an urban area in Estonia had significa ntly higher levels of DNA adducts compared with mothers living in a rural a rea of Estonia and in Switzerland (19.38+/-6.91 per 10(8) normal nucleotide s [NN] vs 10.35+/-6.87 10(8) NN and 8.09+/-6.59 10(8) NN, respectively; P<0 .01). No significant correlation was found between smoking and DNA adduct l evels for any of the subjects. Among the potential biomarkers tested, a pos sible correlation was found between DNA adducts and placental copper in the environmentally polluted area, and a correlation was round between DNA add ucts and glutathione S-transferase (GST) activity for Swiss mothers abusing drugs. The levels of DNA adducts in the drug abusers were not higher than those of the controls: in fact they were lower. These data suggest that the presence of DNA adducts in human placenta is an environmental biomarker fo r polluted areas. A further conclusion is that air pollutants to which preg nant women are exposed can induce DNA damage in the placenta and consequent ly risk exposing the foetus to genotoxins.