title: Detection of mutagens in cervical mucus in smokers and nonsmokers.
abstract: The Salmonella mutagenicity test was used to analyze cervical mucus specimens from 364 smokers and 333 nonsmokers to determine whether the association between smoking and mutagenic cervical mucus that we reported previously among women diagnosed with dysplasia would apply to a larger group of healthy women (E. A. Holly et al., J. Natl. Cancer Inst., 76: 983-986, 1986). Women smokers and nonsmokers between the ages of 18 and 49 who attended eleven clinics and physicians' offices in the San Francisco Bay area for a routine Pap smear were examined to determine whether smokers were more likely to have mutagenic substances in their cervical mucus. About 4% of smokers and 8% of nonsmokers had positive mutagenicity test results (P = 0.02). Cervical mucus with a large number of microorganisms was more likely to have a positive mutagenicity test result than that with fewer microorganisms (test for trend, P = 0.01). Mutagenicity results varied by race and clinic location but were not associated with smoking behavior, sexual behavior, gynecological diagnosis, or diet. Further work is needed to develop methods to detect mutagens in specific body fluids.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University of California San Francisco School of Medicine 94109.
authors.forename: E A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Holly
authors.forename: R D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Cress
authors.forename: D K
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Ahn
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Aston
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Kristiansen
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Felton
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002582:Cervix Mucus / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000382:microbiology; D004032:Diet; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008875:Middle Aged; D009152:Mutagenicity Tests; D009153:Mutagens / Q000032:analysis*; D065006:Papanicolaou Test; D044469:Racial Groups; D012307:Risk Factors; D012495:San Francisco / Q000453:epidemiology; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000473:pathology*; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D014626:Vaginal Smears
chemical_list: D009153:Mutagens