Project Summary (2000-2006)

The goal of this project is to develop a novel and ultra sensitive method for the measurement of DNA adducts in humans and to study the degree of benzene and trichloroethylene (TCE) adduct formation and repair in adults and children at concentrations equivalent to human exposure levels. Benzene and TCE are important toxicants in the workplace and are ubiquitous in the environment. Importantly, there may be age- and gender- specific sensitivity to these agents, which requires study in order to understand the risks posed to children as opposed to adults. An accelerator mass spectrometry-based isotope "postlabeling" assay is being developed and validated that has detection limits in the low attomole range (1 per 10,000,000,000,000 nucleotides). Investigators will validate this technology in a mouse model to explore age and gender effects on benzene and TCE DNA adduct formation. They plan to use this technology in a pilot study with human sperm from benzene-exposed workers to assess the mean level and variations in DNA adduct levels.