THE USE OF DNA ADDUCTS AS A MEASURE OF ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMICAL EXPOSURE IN THE WORKPLACE

<正> Workers in many occupational settings are exposed co toxicchemicals or complex chemical mixtures.Many of these chemicals or theirmetabolites are electrophilic genotoxic agents and potential carcinogenswhich can covalently bind to cellular nucleophiles such as DNA to formDNA adducts.DNA adducts,therefore,indicate that chemicals or theirmetabolites have reached target tissues and reacted with criticalcellular molecules.They can be used to determine the biologicallyeffective dose of exposure,which is more relevant for risk assessmentthan the dose determined by monitoring the occupational environment.Inaddition,the binding of genotoxic agents and potential carcinogens toDNA is generally,considered to be an important early event in theinitiation of chemically induced genetic diseases and cancer.Testsystems such as immunoassay,fluorescence techniques,and (32)~P-postlabeling have been developed for the detection of DNA adducts andapplied in occupational settings.Studies with foundry,coke-oven,androofing

Workers in many occupational settings are exposed to toxic chemicals or complex chemical mixtures. Many of these chemicals or their metabolites are electrophilic genotoxic agents and potential carcinogens which can covalently bind to cellular nuclecphiles such as DNA to form DNA adducts. DNA adducts, therefore, indicate that chemicals or their metabolites have reached target tissues and reacted with critical cellular molecules. They can be used to determine the biologically effective dose of exposure, which is more relevant for risk assessment than the dose determined by monitoring the occupational environment. In addition, the binding of genotoxic agents and potential carcinogens to DNA is generally considered to be an important early event in the initiation of chemically induced genetic diseases and cancer. Test systems such as immunoassay, fluorescence techniques, and 32P-postlabeling have been developed for the detection of DNA adducts and applied in occupational settings. Studies with foundry, coke-oven, and roofing workers have shown that DNA adducts are potentially useful as biomarkers of exposure and the biological effect of toxic chemicals on the exposed workers.