title: Are benzo[a]pyrene-DNA adducts an accurate biomarker of long-term in utero exposure to smoking?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Maternal smoking during pregnancy is associated with adverse perinatal outcomes. In view of concerns about underreporting, benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P)-DNA adducts could be used to provide information about long-term in utero exposure to smoking but have not previously been used with samples from neonates. This study aimed to verify whether B[a]P-DNA adducts could accurately assess tobacco smoke exposure during fetal life. The objectives were to correlate B[a]P-DNA adduct levels with active maternal and passive smoking and to determine the sensitivity and specificity of smoking and nonsmoking status by comparing neonatal B[a]P-DNA adduct levels with those of maternal self-reports.
  
  
  METHODS
  B[a]P-DNA adducts in neonatal buccal cell samples were determined by a competitive immunoassay. Three groups of neonates were constituted according to maternal self-reported smoking status during pregnancy: nonsmokers (n=25; control group), <10 cigarettes per day (n=18; S- group), or >10 cigarettes per day (n=21; S+ group).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean B[a]P-DNA adduct level rose significantly when comparing the controls with the S- and S+ groups. Maternal active smoking had the strongest effect on B[a]P-DNA adduct levels in neonates. A cross analysis between B[a]P-DNA adduct levels and maternal self-reported levels revealed high sensitivity and specificity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This preliminary study suggests that B[a]P-DNA adducts are reliable biomarkers for the screening of long-term in utero exposure to smoking and are accurate when compared with maternal self-reported levels of active smoking. Detection of B[a]P-DNA adducts in neonates could provide a useful, noninvasive tool in clinical risk assessment studies but would benefit from further confirmation with another validated biomarker.
authors.affiliation: PériTox-INERIS (EA4285-UMI01), Laboratory of Toxicology, Jules Verne University of Picardy, Neonatal and Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Amiens University Medical Center, Amiens, France. stephan@u-picardie.fr
authors.forename: Erwan
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Stéphan-Blanchard
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Chardon
authors.forename: Frédéric
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Telliez
authors.forename: Jean-Pierre
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Arnould
authors.forename: André
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Léké
authors.forename: Mohamed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ammari
authors.forename: Rosemary S C
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Horne
authors.forename: Jean-Pierre
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Libert
authors.forename: Véronique
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Bach
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001564:Benzo(a)pyrene / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D002274:Carcinogens, Environmental / Q000032:analysis; D018736:DNA Adducts / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D018811:Maternal Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects; D011247:Pregnancy; D047928:Premature Birth / Q000209:etiology; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects; D014599:Uterus / Q000378:metabolism*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D002274:Carcinogens, Environmental; D018736:DNA Adducts; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution; C056612:benzo(a)pyrene-DNA adduct; D001564:Benzo(a)pyrene