Molecular dosimetry of alkylating agents: quantitative comparison of genetic effects on the basis of DNA adduct formation.

This is a review of the work on molecular dosimetry carried out by several laboratories within the third Environmental Programme of the Commission of the European Communities. The molecular dosimetry project is a coordinated research project in which several laboratories cooperated on various aspects of quantitative comparative mutagenesis. This involved (i) development of assay systems for measurement of DNA adducts using radioactively labelled mutagens; (ii) development of immunological assays for detection and quantification of DNA adducts; (iii) isolation and characterization of monoclonal antibodies against DNA adducts; (iv) quantitative comparison of genetic effects of the model compounds within one assay system; and (v) extrapolation of genetic effects of the model compounds from in vitro systems to whole animal studies.