Aromatic DNA adducts in human white blood cells and skin after dermal application of coal tar

A group of eczema patients topically treated with coal tar (CT) ointments was used as a model population to examine the applicability of DNA adducts in WBC subpopulations as a measure of dermal exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Aromatic DNA adducts were examined by 32Ppostlabeling in exposed skin and WBC subsets, and urinary excretion of PAH metabolites was determined to assess the whole-body burden. The median urinary excretion of 1-hydroxypyrene and 3-hydroxybenzo(a)pyrene was 0.39 (range, 0.12-1.57 tmoVmol creatinine) and 0.01 .&mol/ mol creatimne (range, <0.01-0.04 zmol/mol creatinine), respectively, before the dermal application of CT ointments. After treatment for 1 week, these level