Haemoglobin adducts from aromatic amines in children in relation to area of residence and exposure to environmental tobacco smoke.
OBJECTIVE
The influence of area of residence on haemoglobin (Hb) adducts of 4-aminobiphenyl (4-ABP), o-, m-, p-toluidine and o-anisidine was investigated in children from three different-sized Bavarian cities - Munich, Augsburg and Eichstätt, with 1,300,000, 250,000 and 13,000 inhabitants, respectively--and was compared with that of exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS).


METHODS
Blood samples from Munich (n = 34) and Eichstätt (n = 64) were from children attending the Paediatric Clinic of the Technical University of Munich (TUM) or a practice in Eichstätt, respectively. Blood samples (n = 126) together with urine samples (n = 88) were collected from Augsburg children during school medical examination. Personal data including possible sources of ETS exposure were obtained at the interview. Hb adduct levels were analysed by a gas chromatographic method, using mass spectrometry with selected-ion monitoring. Urinary cotinine was determined by radioimmunoassay.


RESULTS
4-ABP Hb adduct levels in children from Munich were 1.5 and 1.2 times higher than those in children from Eichstätt and Augsburg (P < 0.001). Children from Munich also had significantly higher Hb adduct levels of monocyclic aromatic amines than did children from Eichstätt and, except for o-toluidine, children from Augsburg (P < 0.005). Compared with children from Eichstätt, children from Augsburg had higher Hb adduct levels of 4-ABP, o- and m-toluidine (P < 0.01) but not p-toluidine and o-anisidine. In a multivariate analysis, gender, age and body mass index had no consistent influence on Hb adducts. ETS exposure resulted in a slight, nonsignificant increase in 4-ABP Hb adduct levels. In contrast, adduct levels from monocyclic aromatic amines were consistently decreased in ETS-exposed children (significant for o- and m-toluidine, P<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Hb adducts from aromatic amines in children were strongly influenced by site of residence, whereas ETS exposure did not significantly increase the adduct levels.JECT
Richter
E
E
Walther Straub-Institut für Pharmakologie und Toxikologie, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitat München, Munich, Germany. franky.richter@lrz.uni-muenchen.de
Rösler
S
S
Scherer
G
G
Gostomzyk
J G
JG
Grübl
A
A
Krämer
U
U
Behrendt
H
H
D000588:Amines / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002648:Child; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000032:analysis*; D005858:Germany; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects*
D000588:Amines; D006454:Hemoglobins; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution