P-32 POSTLABELING ANALYSIS OF DNA FROM HUMAN TISSUES

DNA extracted from human lung, bladder, liver, pancreas, cervix and breast tissue samples taken at autopsy (37 sample sets) was analysed by the nuclease P1 enhancement modification of the P-32-postlabelling assay for levels of aromatic carcinogen DNA adducts. Results were combined with those from a previous study for statistical analysis of 56 sample sets (32 male + 24 female). A strong trend was seen for increased adduct levels in the lung DNA of smokers and a weak association for the bladder DNA of smokers compared to non-smokers. Aromatic adducts were also detected in other tissues.