DNA adducts in lymphocytes and granulocytes of men exposed occupationally and environmentally to high concentrations of aromatic compounds in air were measured by the 3 2 P-postlabelling method. Adducts in the same samples were characterised using nuclease P1 enrichment, butanol extraction and immunoaffinity purification with an antiserum raised against benzo[a]pyrene diol epoxide (BPDE). Only part of the adducts found in human samples were extracted by butanol. It also seemed, that only a small part of them belonged to the group of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) recognised by the antibody. Relative content of hydrophobic adducts and those with a structure similar to PAHs was higher in winter samples (when exposure to aromatic chemicals in air was higher) in comparison to samples collected in summer.