Human peripheral lung tissue samples were obtained at autopsy from 17 individuals of known occupational and smoking histories. A spectrum of different carcinogen-DNA adducts was detected using a variety of sensitive techniques. High-pressure liquid chromatography-linked synchronous fluorescent spectrophotometry and an ultrasensitive enzyme radioimmunoassay detected adducts derived from benzo[a]pyrene diol epoxide and other apparent polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. An amplified enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay demonstrated the presence of 4-aminobiphenyl-DNA adducts in many of these samples. A number of these specimens also contained O6-alkyldeoxyguanosine as measured by 32P-postlabeling techniques. Thus this pilot study indicates not only that human lung contains a spectrum of carcinogen-DNA adducts, but also that a full scale molecular dosimetry study of human exposure to both aryl and alkyl chemical carcinogens is warranted.