Evaluation of biomarkers of exposure and potential harm in smokers, former smokers and never-smokers

Abstract

Abstract: The objective of this study was to obtain baseline data on biomarkers of exposure (BoE) and biomarkers of potential harm (BoPH) in smokers, former smokers and never-smokers.: This was a cross-sectional study of 80 healthy male and female volunteers over 21 years old, self-selected for smoking status. Subjects were pre-screened by medical staff at an independent clinical research unit, within 1 week prior to a single overnight residential visit and sample collection.: All BoE were able to differentiate between the two smoking groups and smokers from all non-smokers. There was a strong correlation between cigarettes smoked per day and total urinary nicotine equivalents (TNE; r=0.85). TNE correlated better with 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanol levels than cigarettes smoked per day (r=0.75 and r=0.56, respectively). Of the BoPH included in this study, seven (11-dehydro-thromboxane B2, 2, 3-dinorthromboxane B2, 8-epi prostaglandin F: While BoE clearly differentiate between groups based on self-declared smoking status, most BoPH examined could not do so in a consistent manner. The dynamics of BoPH levels are not well understood. Future studies of BoPH should eliminate potential confounding factors and increase the number of subjects to allow the investigation of genetic polymorphism in metabolic pathways.Clin Chem Lab Med 2009;47:311–20.