title: Haemoglobin adducts from aromatic amines in children in relation to area of residence and exposure to environmental tobacco smoke.
abstract: 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
authors.affiliation: Walther Straub-Institut für Pharmakologie und Toxikologie, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitat München, Munich, Germany. franky.richter@lrz.uni-muenchen.de
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Richter
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rösler
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Scherer
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Gostomzyk
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Grübl
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Krämer
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Behrendt
mesh_terms: 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*
chemical_list: D000588:Amines; D006454:Hemoglobins; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution