Tobacco smoke hemoglobin adducts in maternal and fetal blood

The maternal-fetal exchange of the potent tobacco related human carcinogen, 4-aminobiphenyl, was studied in women smokers during pregnancy. Maternal a nd fetal blood samples were classified as coming from nonsmokers (n=74), in dividuals smoking less than 1 pack of cigarettes per day (n=16), individual s smoking 1 pack of cigarettes per day (n=19), individuals smoking 1-2 pack s of cigarettes per day (n=19), and individuals smoking greater than 2 pack s of cigarettes per day (n=20). 4-aminobiphenyl was extracted from both mat ernal and fetal blood samples using organic extractions and the released am ine was qualitatively and quantitatively characterized by analysis of the s amples by gas chromatographic and mass spectrometric analysis. Increasing l evels of Caminobiphenyl hemoglobin adducts were found as the smoking status of the women increased ranging from 144 +/- 22.2 (<1 pack per day) to 633 +/- 87.9 (>2 packs per day). A corresponding increase in the presence of fe tal 4-aminobiphenyl hemoglobin adducts was also detected (74.3 +/- 17.8; <1 pack/day to 319 +/- 50.5; >2 packs/day).