Pilz F, Gärtner A, Pluym N, Scherer G, Scherer M. A sensitive GC-MS/MS method for the quantification of benzo[a]pyrene tetrol in urine.
Anal Bioanal Chem 2024:10.1007/s00216-024-05233-9. [PMID:
38459968 DOI:
10.1007/s00216-024-05233-9]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2024] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 03/11/2024]
Abstract
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are ubiquitous pollutants formed during the incomplete combustion of organic matter such as tobacco. Among these, benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) has been classified as a known carcinogen to humans. It unfolds its effect through metabolic activation to BaP-(7R,8S)-diol-(9S,10R)-epoxide (BPDE), the ultimate carcinogen of BaP. In this article, we describe a simple and highly sensitive GC-NICI-MS/MS method for the quantification of urinary BaP-(7R,8S,9R,10S)-tetrol (( +)-BPT I-1), the hydrolysis product of BPDE. The method was validated and showed excellent results in terms of accuracy, precision, and sensitivity (lower limit of quantification (LLOQ): 50 pg/L). In urine samples derived from users of tobacco/nicotine products and non-users, only consumption of combustible cigarettes was associated with a significant increase in BPT I-1 concentrations (0.023 ± 0.016 nmol/mol creatinine, p < 0.001). Levels of users of potentially reduced-risk products as well as non-users were all below the LLOQ. In addition, the urine levels of six occupationally exposed workers were analyzed and showed the highest overall concentrations of BPT I-1 (844.2 ± 336.7 pg/L). Moreover, comparison with concentrations of 3-hydroxybenzo[a]pyrene (3-OH-BaP), the major detoxification product of BaP oxidation, revealed higher levels of 3-OH-BaP than BPT I-1 in almost all study subjects. Despite the lower levels, BPT I-1 can provide more relevant information on an individual's cancers susceptibility since BPDE is generated by the metabolic activation of BaP. In conclusion, BPT I-1 is a suitable biomarker to distinguish not only cigarette smokers from non-smokers but also from users of potentially reduced-risk products.
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