title: Urinary levoglucosan as a biomarker of wood smoke exposure: observations in a mouse model and in children.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Biomass smoke is an important source of particulate matter (PM), and much remains to be discovered with respect to the human health effects associated with this specific PM source. Exposure to biomass smoke can occur in one of two main categories: short-term exposures consist of periodic, seasonal exposures typified by communities near forest fires or intentional agricultural burning, and long-term exposures are chronic and typified by the use of biomass materials for cooking or heating. Levoglucosan (LG), a sugar anhydride released by combustion of cellulose-containing materials, is an attractive candidate as a biomarker of wood smoke exposure.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  In the present study, Balb/c mice and children were assessed for LG in urine to determine its feasibility as a biomarker.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed urinary detection of LG by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry after intranasal instillations of LG or concentrated PM (mice) or biomass exposure (mice or humans).
  
  
  RESULTS
  After instillation, we recovered most of the LG within the first 4 hr. Experiments using glucose instillation proved the specificity of our system, and instillation of concentrated PM from wood smoke, ambient air, and diesel exhaust supported a connection between wood smoke and LG. In addition, LG was detected in the urine of mice exposed to wood smoke. Finally, a pilot human study proved our ability to detect LG in urine of children.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results demonstrate that LG in the lungs is detectable in the urine of both mice and humans and that it is a good candidate as a biomarker of exposure to biomass smoke.
authors.affiliation: Center for Environmental Health Science, University of Montana, Missoula, Montana 59812, USA. christopher.migliaccio@umontana.edu
authors.forename: Christopher T
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Migliaccio
authors.forename: Megan A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Bergauff
authors.forename: Christopher P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Palmer
authors.forename: Forrest
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Jessop
authors.forename: Curtis W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Noonan
authors.forename: Tony J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Ward
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000652:urine*; D002648:Child; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D005936:Glucans / Q000652:urine*; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D012906:Smoke / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014934:Wood
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D005936:Glucans; D012906:Smoke