EN
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are DNA adducts forming carcinogens. The DNA adducts, especially 8-oxoguanine (8-oxoG), are the established biomarker of environmental genotoxic compounds exposure. The aim of this study was to determine the 8-oxoG presence in peripheral blood lymphocytes of 27 coke oven workers and 21 rural area inhabitants comparison. The study and control groups were not significantly different according to %8-oxoG-positive lymphocytes. In the control group the difference between smokers and non-smokers was significant (p<0,01). %8-oxoG in non-smokers from the study and control groups were significantly different (p<0,009). The occupational exposure and smoking cigarettes are important oxidative DNA damage causing factors.