Abstract
Benzo[a]pyrene (BaP), a human carcinogen, is formed during the incomplete combustion of organic matter such as tobacco. A suitable biomarker of exposure is the monohydroxylated metabolite 3-hydroxybenzo[a]pyrene (3-OH-BaP). We developed a sensitive LC–MS/MS (liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry) method for the quantification of urinary 3-OH-BaP. The method was validated according to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) guideline for bioanalytical method validation and showed excellent results in terms of accuracy, precision, and sensitivity (lower limit of quantification (LLOQ): 50 pg/L). The method was applied to urine samples derived from a controlled clinical study to compare exposure from cigarette smoking to the use of potentially reduced-risk products. Urinary 3-OH-BaP concentrations were significantly higher in smokers of conventional cigarettes (149 pg/24 h) compared to users of potentially reduced-risk products as well as non-users (99% < LLOQ in these groups). In conclusion, 3-OH-BaP is a suitable biomarker to assess the exposure to BaP in non-occupationally exposed populations and to distinguish not only cigarette smokers from non-smokers but also from users of potentially reduced-risk products.
Highlights
Several new nicotine and tobacco products have been introduced as alternatives to smoking with a potentially reduced health risk compared to conventional cigarettes (CC)
For the determination of Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) exposure, usually, respective monohydroxylated urinary metabolites are analyzed by means of LC–MS/MS or GC–MS
The extracts were analyzed by LC–MS/MS
Summary
Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are formed during the incomplete combustion of organic matter. High exposures are observed at special workplaces such as cookeries, steel factories, and road buildings. Exposure of the general population to PAHs is mainly caused by environmental factors such as polluted air and water, by the consumption of smoked and grilled food, and by smoking of conventional (combustible) cigarettes (CC), respectively [1,2,3,4,5,6]. Several new nicotine and tobacco products have been introduced as alternatives to smoking with a potentially reduced health risk compared to CC.
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