The maternal-fetal exchange of the potent tobacco-related human carcinogen 4-aminobiphenyl was studied in women smokers during pregnancy. The number of cigarettes smoked per day by each of the women in the study was assessed via questionnaire and by measurement by immunoassay of serum and urine cotinine in maternal and fetal blood samples. Maternal and fetal blood samples were classified as coming from nonsmokers (n = 74), individuals smoking less than 1 pack of cigarettes per day (n = 16), individuals smoking 1 pack of cigarettes per day (n = 19), individuals smoking 1-2 packs of cigarettes per day (n = 19), and individuals smoking greater than 2 packs of cigarettes per day (n = 20). Both maternal and fetal blood samples were obtained at the time of delivery. 4-Aminobiphenyl was extracted from both maternal and fetal blood samples using organic extractions and the released amine was qualitatively and quantitatively characterized by analysis of the samples by gas chromatographic and mass spectrometric analysis. Background levels of 4-aminobiphenyl-hemoglobin adducts were detected in maternal nonsmokers (18.3 +/- 12.7 pg 4-aminobiphenyl/g hemoglobin, mean +/- SD) and in fetal samples (8.88 +/- 5.8 pg/g hemoglobin). Increasing levels of 4-aminobiphenyl-hemoglobin adducts were found as the smoking status of the women increased, ranging from 144 +/- 22.2 ( < 1 pack/d) to 633 +/- 87.9 ( > 2 packs/d). A corresponding increase in the presence of fetal 4-aminobiphenyl-hemoglobin adducts was also detected (74 +/- 17.8, < 1 pack/d, to 319 +/- 50.5, > 2 packs/d). This study confirms that the potent tobacco-related carcinogen 4-aminobiphenyl crosses the human placenta and binds to fetal hemoglobin in significantly higher concentrations in smokers when compared to nonsmokers.

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1,3-Dinitrobenzene (DNB) and 1,3,5-trinitrobenzene (TNB) are used primarily in explosive compositions and munitions and have been detected as environmental contaminants of surface waters as well as ground waters near production waste disposal sites. Hemoglobin (Hb) adducts have recently been proposed as biological markers of exposure assessment for various environmental compounds, including nitroaromatics. In the present study, we have investigated the formation of DNB and TNB hemoglobin adducts in vivo and in vitro in the blood of shrew (Cryptotis parva). DNB and TNB hemoglobin adducts were detected by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) after either basic (0.1 N NaOH) or acid (2 N HCl) hydrolysis followed by organic solvent extraction and derivatization of the corresponding amines. The levels of DNB-Hb adducts detected after basic hydrolysis (238.7 & pm; 50.2 pg/mg Hb) are higher than the corresponding levels detected after acid hydrolysis (52.5 & pm; 16.2 pg/mg Hb). For the TNB-Hb the levels after acid hydrolysis (132.2 & pm; 37.8 pg/mg Hb) are higher than the levels detected after basic hydrolysis (44.7 & pm; 15.3 pg-mg Hb). These results demonstrate the effectiveness of the hemoglobin adduct model for monitoring exposure to nitroaromatics.

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