Molecular and genetic damage in humans from environmental pollution in Poland

A study was conducted of the molecular impact of exposure to environmental pollution on rural and urban Polish groups. Six biological markers were used to establish that exposure to increased concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) correlates significantly with increases in carcinogenic PAH-DNA adducts. Chromosomal aberrations, increased ras oncogene expression and sister chromatid exchanges were also shown to be positively correlated with increased exposure. Thus exposure to high PAH levels may result in chromosomal mutation which is relevant to reproductive and cancer risk.