Analysis of tobacco-specific N-nitrosamines in indoor air.
A method was developed and applied for the assessment of tobacco-specific N-nitrosamines (TSNA) in indoor air polluted with tobacco smoke. Air samples were collected on Cambridge filters treated with 0.01 M potassium bisulfate, extracted with dichloromethane and enriched by column chromatography. The fraction containing the TSNA was concentrated and placed on a thermal desorption cartridge packed with Tenax GR. The sample was thermally desorbed and analyzed by capillary GC using a thermal energy analyzer. When the method was applied in a test laboratory in which one, two and four cigarettes were smoked during 30 min, linearity was observed. Field studies included sampling in bars, restaurants and trains. The concentration of N'-nitrosonornicotine (NNN) ranged from not detected to 23 pg/l, that of N'-nitrosoanatabine ranged from not detected to 9 pg/l, while 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK) was detected in concentrations ranging from 1 to 29 pg/l. This means an exposure to NNN and NNK of 0.1-0.3 cigarette equivalents. Thus, non-smokers can be exposed to highly carcinogenic TSNA.
Brunnemann
K D
KD
Division of Environmental Carcinogenesis, Naylor Dana Institute for Disease Prevention, American Health Foundation, Valhalla, NY 10595.
Cox
J E
JE
Hoffmann
D
D
D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor; D002273:Carcinogens / Q000032:analysis*; D002849:Chromatography, Gas; D009602:Nitrosamines / Q000032:analysis*; D010947:Plants, Toxic; D014026:Nicotiana
D002273:Carcinogens; D009602:Nitrosamines; C016583:4-(N-methyl-N-nitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone; C032978:N'-nitrosoanatabine; C008655:N'-nitrosonornicotine