Lower nucleotide excision repair capacity in newborns compared to their mothers: a pilot study.

Recognition of the potential vulnerability of children and newborns and protection of their health is essential, especially regarding to genotoxic compounds. Benzo(a)pyrene B(a)P a commonly found carcinogen, and its metabolite BPDE, are known to cross the placenta. To investigate how well newborns are able to cope with BPDE-induced DNA damage, a recent developed nucleotide excision repair cell phenotype assay was applied in a pilot study of 25 newborn daughters and their mothers, using the Alkaline Comet Assay and taking demographic data into account. Newborns seemed to be less able to repair BPDE-induced DNA damage since lower repair capacity levels were calculated compared to their mothers although statistical significance was not reached. Assessment of repair capacity in combination with genotypes will provide important information to support preventive strategies in neonatal care and to define science based exposure limits for pregnant women and children.