The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

4003.0: Tuesday, November 12, 2002 - Board 4

Abstract #43608

Environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) causes DNA damage to lung cells

Eliezer Bermúdez, PhD, Department of Health and Safety, Indiana State University, Arena B-83, Terre Haute, IN 47809, 812-237-3077, hselieze@isugw.indstate.edu

ETS is a major contributor to indoor air pollution. Sidestream smoke constitutes at least 85% of ETS. This study demonstrated the ability of the tar-phenolic fraction isolated from sidestream smoke to nick DNA in mammalian cells. Research-grade cigarettes (2R1) from the Kentucky Tobacco Research Council were smoked and the sidestream smoke collected on a Cambridge filter. The tar collected on the filter was extracted on a PBS solution (pH 7.0). Chinese Hamster V-79 lung cells were used in these experiments. After culture, the cells were harvested and incubated with aliquots of the phenolic fraction solution for 90 minutes. The final tar-phenolic fraction concentration ranged from 0.20 to 2.0 mg/mL. The fluorescent analysis of DNA unwinding (FADU) assay was used to determine DNA damage. The results showed that tar-phenolic fraction solutions caused DNA breaks in lung cells in proportion to the amount of tar present until a plateau was reached. The amount of DNA damage was determined by calculation of Qd. One Qd unit corresponds to about 100 strand breaks per cell. The amount of DNA damage increased as the tar-phenolic fraction concentration increased from 0.4 to 1.5 mg/mL. The maximum Qd value was 120 ± 10.2 for tar concentrations of 1.5 mg/mL or greater. This is the amount of tar-phenolic fraction produced by approximately one 2R1 cigarette. Clearly, the phenolic fraction of sidestream smoke is involved in nicking DNA in mammalian cells, and this damage may account for carcinogenic effects of sidestream tar or environmental tobacco smoke tar.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the poster session, participants will be able to

Keywords: Tobacco, Environmental Exposures

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.

State Clean Indoor Air / Environmental Tobacco Smoke Poster Session

The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA