Quantification of ultraviolet radiation-induced DNA damage in the urine of Swedish adults and children following exposure to sunlight.
BACKGROUND
DNA damage following exposure to ultraviolet radiation (UVR) is important in skin cancer development. The predominant photoproduct, cyclobutane thymine dimer (T=T), is repaired and excreted in the urine, where it provides a biomarker of exposure.


OBJECTIVE
To quantify urinary T=T levels after recreational sunlight exposure in adults and children.


METHODS
Average UVR doses were measured with personal dosimeters. Urinary T=T was analysed with (32)P-postlabelling.


RESULTS
Background levels of T=T increased significantly following exposure to sunlight. Amounts of T=T in urine of children and adults were not significantly different after adjusting for area of skin exposed and physiological differences. UVR dose and amounts of T=T correlated for both adults and children.


CONCLUSIONS
Recreational exposure to sunlight in Sweden induces levels of DNA damage, clearly detectable in urine.
Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institute, Huddinge, Sweden. tove.sandberg@ki.se
Tove Sandberg
TS
Liljendahl
Natalia
N
Kotova
Dan
D
Segerbäck
D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000652:urine; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004249:DNA Damage; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011740:Pyrimidine Dimers / Q000652:urine*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D055108:Sunbathing; D013472:Sunlight / Q000009:adverse effects; D013548:Sweden; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays / Q000009:adverse effects*; D055815:Young Adult
D015415:Biomarkers; D011740:Pyrimidine Dimers