The Analytical Toxicology unit is a research group within the Karolinska Institutet, Department of Biosciences at Novum, Center for Nutrition and Toxicology. The group works mainly with DNA adducts, environmental contaminants, genotoxic assays and affecting factors.
Man is exposed to thousands of different substances during life.
Some of these chemically react with DNA to form DNA adducts which are early markers for increased cancer risk. Analytical Toxicology Human DNA adduct profiles analyzed by the P32-HPLC method developed within the unit. The upper chromatogram is from an elderly individual with high DNA adduct levels. The lower chromatogram shows a pattern found in a teenager. After exposure to carcinogens in vivo , we have shown that the tissue response in forming DNA adducts in the first few days is related to tumor formation up to two years later.