title: Tobacco smoke and formation of N-(2-hydroxyethyl)valine in human hemoglobin.
abstract: Human exposure to ethylene oxide (EtO) occurs mainly through inhalation of polluted air in occupational workplaces and/or via tobacco smoke. A significant biochemical reaction of EtO converts the terminal valine of hemoglobin into N-(2-hydroxyethyl)valine (HOEtVal). In the present study, the extent of HOEtVal formation in 360 healthy adults who were not occupationally exposed to EtO was measured with a gas chromatograph/mass spectrometer in the electron-capture negative chemical ionization mode. This parameter was correlated with smoking habits and urinary cotinine concentration, exhibiting a positive relationship between HOEtVal and the number of cigarettes smoked (r2 = .4416). Urinary cotinine measurements also correlated with HOEtVal and the number of cigarettes smoked. This positive correlation between urinary cotinine and HOEtVal (r2 = .3893) provides a new perspective on the early stages of carcinogenic processes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and Microbiology, University of Torino, Torino, Italy. roberto.bono@unito.it
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bono
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vincenti
authors.forename: Umberto
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Saglia
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pignata
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Russo
authors.forename: Giorgio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gilli
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D015982:Bias; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D002273:Carcinogens / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003367:Cotinine / Q000652:urine; D005027:Ethylene Oxide / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis*; D014633:Valine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D002273:Carcinogens; D006454:Hemoglobins; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution; C057442:2-hydroxyethylvaline; D014633:Valine; D005027:Ethylene Oxide; D003367:Cotinine