Concentration of dimethylnitrosamine in the air of smoke-filled rooms

Simultaneous Adsorption and Electrochemical Reduction of N-Nitrosodimethylamine Using Carbon-Ti4O7 Composite Reactive Electrochemical Membranes

This study focused on synthesis and characterization of Ti₄O₇ reactive electrochemical membranes (REMs) amended with powder-activated carbon (PAC) or multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). These composite REMs were evaluated for simultaneous adsorption and electrochemical reduction of N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA). The carbon-Ti₄O₇ composite REMs had high electrical conductivities (1832 to 2991 S m^-1), where carbon and Ti₄O₇ were in direct electrical contact. Addition of carbonaceous materials increased the residence times of NDMA in the REMs by a factor of 3.8 to 5.4 and therefore allowed for significant electrochemical NDMA reduction. The treatment of synthetic solutions containing 10 μM NDMA achieved >4-log NDMA removal in a single pass (liquid residence time of 11 to 22 s) through the PAC-REM and MWCNT-REM with the application of a -1.1 V/SHE cathodic potential, with permeate concentrations between 18 and 80 ng L^-1. The treatment of a 6.7 nM NDMA-spiked surface water sample, under similar operating conditions (liquid residence time of 22 s), achieved 92 to 97% removal with permeate concentrations between 16 and 40 ng L^-1. Density functional theory calculations determined a probable reaction mechanism for NDMA reduction, where the rate-limiting step was a direct electron transfer reaction.

Effects of heavy metal ions on N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) formation

The mechanism of NDMA formation as affected by heavy metal complexes [MONO]⁺ (M = Cd, Pb, Hg) was investigated using density functional theory (DFT). Three possible NDMA formation pathways are discussed.

Biomonitoring exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS): a critical reappraisal

1 The most frequently used biomarkers for exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) are cotinine and thiocyanate in body fluids, carboxyhaemoglobin in red blood cells (COHb) and carbon monoxide in the expired air. Although not ideal, cotinine in blood, saliva or urine is an established biomarker for ETS exposure within the past 1-3 days. Comparison with cotinine concentrations in cigarette smokers reveals that passive smokers take up less than 1/100 of the nicotine dose of smokers. 2 Biomonitoring data available for the ETS-related exposure to genotoxic substances comprise uptake of benzene, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), aromatic amines, tobacco-specific nifrosamines (TSNA), electrophilic compounds giving rise to urinary thioethers, mutagens causing urinary mutagenic activity and the formation of various DNA adducts. With the exception of TSNA, these biomarkers are related to chemicals occurring ubiquitously in the environment and in the food. As a consequence, the background levels in unexposed nonsmokers are high compared to the observed increases (if any) associated with ETS exposure. 3 Some markers of biological effects, which, by definition, are non-specific with regard to the underlying exposure, have also been investigated in relation to ETS exposure. These markers comprise cytogenetic effects, aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase (AHH) induction, urinary hydroxyproline excretion and various factors indicative of cardiovascular risks. The available data suggest that passive smoking is associated with a small induction of placental AHH and also with effects on cardiovascular risk markers. The latter findings in particular may be confounded by other risk factors, which have been observed to be more frequent in passive smokers than in unexposed nonsmokers.

Mainstream and environmental tobacco smoke

Environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) is derived from cigarette smoldering and active smoker exhalation. Its composition displays broad quantitative differences and redistributions between gas and respirable suspended particulate (RSP) phases when compared with the mainstream smoke (MSS) that smokers puff. This is because of different generation conditions and because ETS is diluted and ages vastly more than MSS. Such differences prevent a direct comparison of MSS and ETS and their biologic activities. However, even assuming similarities on an equal mass basis, ETS-RSP inhaled doses are estimated to be between 10,000- and 100,000-fold less than estimated average MSS-RSP doses for active smokers. Differences in effective gas phase doses are expected to be of similar magnitude. Thus the average person exposed to ETS would retain an annual dose analogous to the active MSS smoking of considerably less than one cigarette dispersed over a 1-year period. By contrast, consistent epidemiologic data indicate that active smoking of some 4-5 cigarettes per day may not be associated with a significantly increased risk of lung cancer. Similar indications also obtain for cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. Since average doses of ETS to nonsmoking subjects in epidemiologic studies are several thousand times less than this reported intake level, the marginal relative risks of lung cancer and other diseases attributed to ETS in some epidemiologic studies are likely to be statistical artifacts, derived from unaccounted confounders and unavoidable bias.

A genotoxic assessment of environmental tobacco smoke using bacterial bioassays

Recently, the National Research Council in the U.S.A. stated that laboratory studies of environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) should be important in identifying ETS carcinogens, their concentrations in typical daily environments, and in understanding how these compounds contribute to ETS dose-response relationships. This paper demonstrates that integrated chemical and bacterial mutagenicity information can be used to identify ETS genotoxicants, monitor human exposure, and make comparative assessments. Approximately 1/3 of the ETS constituents for which there is quantitative analytical chemistry information also have associated genotoxicity information. For example, 11 of the quantitated compounds are animal carcinogens. Work presented in this paper demonstrates that both the nonparticle-bound semivolatile and the particulate-bound organic material contain bacterial mutagens. These ETS organics give an equivalent of approximately 86,000 revertants per cigarette. In addition, this article summarized efforts to estimate ETS bacterial mutagenicity, to use bacterial tests for the monitoring of ETS-impacted indoor environments, and to use bacterial assays for the direct monitoring of human exposure.

Environmental tobacco smoke: overview of chemical composition and genotoxic components

Tobacco smoke contains numerous compounds emitted as gases and condensed tar particles. The sidestream smoke emissions, which constitute the major part of environmental tobacco smoke (ETS), are generally larger than the mainstream smoke emissions. Many of the organic compounds, belonging to a variety of chemical classes, are known to be genotoxic and carcinogenic. These include the known constituents, alkenes, nitrosamines, aromatic and heterocyclic hydrocarbons and amines. Emission of sidestream smoke in indoor environments with relatively low ventilation rates can result in pollutant concentrations above those generally encountered in ambient air in urban areas. The chemical characteristics of ETS thus support the indications that exposure to ETS can be causally associated with the induction of several types of cancer.

Methylations in human hemoglobin

Levels of N-Methylvaline (MeVal) and N tau-methylhistidine (MeHis) were measured in male smokers and non-smokers in a program aimed at mapping background alkylations of hemoglobin (Hb) as potential indicators of doses of exogenous and endogenous genotoxic agents. MeVal was also determined in Hb from rats, Syrian golden hamsters, mice and chickens. MeVal was found to occur at levels around 0.5 nmole/g Hb, with relatively little variation between individuals and species. MeVal was not significantly affected by smoking. This result contrasts with elevated levels of N-hydroxyethylvaline (HOEtVal) measured in the same persons (Törnqvist et al., 1986b). Levels of S-methylcysteine (MeCys) (Bailey et al., 1981) and MeHis were much higher than those of MeVal. The high levels of MeCys and MeHis may be due partly to misincorporation during protein synthesis and to artifacts. S-Adenosylmethionine and formaldehyde are possible endogenous sources of MeVal. One individual (smoker) out of 21 selected for measurement of MeVal was an outlier, with raised levels of both MeVal and HOEtVal, as would be expected in case of a defective detoxification system.

A critical look at N-nitrosamines in environmental tobacco smoke

The amounts of cigarette smoke carcinogens released into the environment as sidestream smoke (SS) constituents are generally twice as high as the levels of the carcinogens that are inhaled as mainstream smoke (MS). However, certain carcinogens in undiluted SS, such as nitrosamines, exceed MS levels up to 50 times. Regardless of the fact that SS is usually substantially diluted before being inhaled, its constituents can be determined in environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) by modern analytical methods and levels of exposure of involuntary smokers can be assessed by the use of specific markers. Currently, the uptake of ETS by nonsmokers is determined by measuring nicotine and its metabolite cotinine in saliva, serum and/or urine. In on-going studies, we are now exploring the determination of the two highly carcinogenic nicotine-derived nitrosamines N'-nitrosonornicotine (NNN) and 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK), respectively of their metabolites, in physiological fluids of smokers and nonsmokers.

Contribution of passive smoking to respiratory cancer

This article reviews data from experimental and epidemiologic studies on passive smoking and makes 12 recommendations for further study. The physicochemical nature of passive smoke, the smoke inhaled by nonsmokers, differs significantly from the mainstream smoke inhaled by the active smoker. At present, measurement of urinary cotinine appears to be the best method of assessing exposures to passive smoking. Data indicate that the greater number of lung cancers in nonsmoking women is probably related to environmental tobacco smoke. Exposures in utero and very early in life to passive smoking may be important in relationship to the subsequent development of cancer and need further consideration. The short-term effects of environmental tobacco smoke on the cardiovascular system, especially among high-risk individuals, may be of greater concern than that of cancer and requires further study. Further study of increased risks of lung cancers in relation to environmental tobacco smoke exposure requires larger collaborative studies to identify lung cancer cases among nonsmokers, better delineation of pathology, and more careful selection of controls. In addition, studies of epithelial cells or specific cytology should be undertaken to determine evidence of cellular changes in relation to environmental tobacco smoke exposure. Animal inhalation studies with passive smoke should be initiated with respect to transplacental carcinogenesis, the relationship of sidestream smoke exposure with lung cancer, the induction of tumors in the respiratory tract and other organs, and the differences in the physicochemical natures of sidestream and mainstream smoke.

Indoor air pollution by smoke constituents--a survey

A review of the literature on the present state of knowledge about the topic "indoor air pollution by smoke constituents" has been made. While consideration is given to standard bibliographic works and more recent reviews, an evaluation of the results of field studies and experimental investigations carried out under realistic conditions is also made. The selection of the tobacco smoke constituents discussed here was based on environmental and toxicological aspects. The following substances are considered in detail: carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, formaldehyde, acrolein, ammonia, phenol, hydrogen cyanide, sulfur dioxide, cadmium, nickel, nicotine, some volatile nitrosamines, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and respirable particulates. The smoke constituent concentrations in the literature are presented in tables. The results are evaluated and discussed with respect to the maximum allowable concentrations presently valid in the Federal Republic of Germany.