Liquid chromatography- mass spectrometry for analysis of DNA damages induced by environmental exposure.

Long-term exposures to environmental toxicants are causative factors for human health effects. DNA damages are of great interest in that they can serve as the potential biomarkers of environmental exposure and mutations. Qualitative and quantitative detection of their level in genomic DNA, are helpful for the understanding of the generation, transformation, repair and fate of DNA damages and for elucidating the mechanism underlying carcinogenesis. Methodologies based on liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) have shown unique advantages in accurate and highly sensitive analysis of these structurally modified DNA damages. The present review summarizes our current knowledge on LC-MS analysis of genetic DNA damages, with special emphasis on structurally chemical DNA modifications induced by environmental exposure. Advances in LC-MS analysis and monitoring of oxidative DNA lesion, DNA adducts induced by heavy metals, persistent organic pollutants, bisphenols, fine particulate matters, aldehydes and halobenzoquinones are comprehensively summarized. • Highly sensitive LC-MS methods for DNA damages analysis. • Oxidative DNA damages, DNA adducts induced by environmental exposure. • DNA modifications caused by new emerging contaminants including PM2.5 and BPA. • Advances in DNA damage monitoring and adductomics benefited from LC-MS/MS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]