title: Tobacco alkaloids and tobacco-specific nitrosamines in dust from homes of smokeless tobacco users, active smokers, and nontobacco users.
abstract: Smokeless tobacco products, such as moist snuff or chewing tobacco, contain many of the same carcinogens as tobacco smoke; however, the impact on children of indirect exposure to tobacco constituents via parental smokeless tobacco use is unknown. As part of the California Childhood Leukemia Study, dust samples were collected from 6 homes occupied by smokeless tobacco users, 6 homes occupied by active smokers, and 20 tobacco-free homes. To assess children's potential for exposure to tobacco constituents, vacuum-dust concentrations of five tobacco-specific nitrosamines, including N'-nitrosonornicotine [NNN] and 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone [NNK], as well as six tobacco alkaloids, including nicotine and myosmine, were quantified by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). We used generalized estimating equations derived from a multivariable marginal model to compare levels of tobacco constituents between groups, after adjusting for a history of parental smoking, income, home construction date, and mother's age and race/ethnicity. The ratio of myosmine/nicotine was used as a novel indicator of the source of tobacco contamination, distinguishing between smokeless tobacco products and tobacco smoke. Median dust concentrations of NNN and NNK were significantly greater in homes with smokeless tobacco users compared to tobacco-free homes. In multivariable models, concentrations of NNN and NNK were 4.8- and 6.9-fold higher, respectively, in homes with smokeless tobacco users compared to tobacco-free homes. Median myosmine/nicotine ratios were lower in homes with smokeless tobacco users (1.8%) compared to homes of active smokers (7.7%), confirming that cigarette smoke was not the predominant source of tobacco constituents in homes with smokeless tobacco users. Children living with smokeless tobacco users may be exposed to carcinogenic tobacco-specific nitrosamines via contact with contaminated dust and household surfaces.
authors: †School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, 1995 University Avenue, Berkeley, California 94704, United States.
authors: Todd P
authors: TP
authors: Whitehead
authors: ‡School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco General Hospital Campus, 1001 Potrero Avenue, San Francisco, California 94143, United States.
authors: Christopher
authors: C
authors: Havel
authors: †School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, 1995 University Avenue, Berkeley, California 94704, United States.
authors: Catherine
authors: C
authors: Metayer
authors: ‡School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco General Hospital Campus, 1001 Potrero Avenue, San Francisco, California 94143, United States.
authors: Neal L
authors: NL
authors: Benowitz
authors: ‡School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco General Hospital Campus, 1001 Potrero Avenue, San Francisco, California 94143, United States.
authors: Peyton
authors: P
authors: Jacob
mesh_terms: D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000032:analysis*; D000470:Alkaloids / Q000032:analysis*; D002273:Carcinogens / Q000032:analysis; D002648:Child; D002853:Chromatography, Liquid; D004391:Dust / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D009602:Nitrosamines / Q000032:analysis*; D053719:Tandem Mass Spectrometry; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution / Q000032:analysis*; D014030:Tobacco, Smokeless / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D000470:Alkaloids; D002273:Carcinogens; D004391:Dust; D009602:Nitrosamines; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution; C016583:4-(N-methyl-N-nitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone; C008655:N'-nitrosonornicotine