DNA Adduct Formation in the Lungs and Brain of Rats Exposed to Low Concentrations of [ 13 C 2 ]-Acetaldehyde.

Air pollution is a major environmental risk for human health. Acetaldehyde is present in tobacco smoke and vehicle exhaust. In this study, we show that [ ¹³ C ₂ ]-acetaldehyde induces DNA modification with the formation of isotopically labeled 1, N ² -propano-2'-deoxyguanosine adducts in the brain and lungs of rats exposed to concentrations of acetaldehyde found in the atmosphere of megacities. The adduct, with the addition of two molecules of isotopically labeled acetaldehyde [ ¹³ C ₄ ]-1, N ² -propano-dGuo, was detected in the lung and brain tissues of exposed rats by micro-HPLC/MS/MS. Structural confirmation of the products was unequivocally performed by nano-LC/ESI ⁺ -HRMS ³ analyses. DNA modifications induced by acetaldehyde have been regarded as a key factor in the mechanism of mutagenesis and may be involved in the cancer risks associated with air pollution.