Hemoglobin Adducts of Benzo[a]Pyrene in Tobacco Smokers : Characterization of Benzo[a]Pyrene Adducts in Maternal and Fetal Blood Samples

The formation of hemoglobin - carcinogen adducts has been detected in carcinogen treated animals and in human populations. Although polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons are ubiquitous in the human environment and DNA - aromatic hydrocarbon adducts have been detected in human tissue, the occurrence of hemoglobin - polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbon adducts in humans has not been thoroughly described. In this study we examined the effects of reaction condition on the extent of in vitro reaction of human hemoglobin and (+) [³H]benzo[a]pyrene-7,8-diol-9,10-epoxide (anti)(BPDE), a metabolite thought to be largely responsible for the carcinogenic effect of benzo[a]pyrene. The chromatographic properties of the resulting hemoglobin - BPDE adducts were examined by conventional DEAE-cellulose ion exchange liquid chromatography and by reversed phase high performance liquid chromatography. Several adducts were formed which were chromatographically resolved from hemoglobin and from the individual globins. We applied these techniques to the qualitative and quantitative assessment of benzo(a)pyrene hemoglobin adducts in smokers, correlating both maternal and fetal adducts with smoking status.