Decreasing urinary PAH metabolites and 7-methylguanine after smoking cessation.

OBJECTIVE

Humans are exposed to various carcinogens by smoking. Urinary metabolites of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), one of the major carcinogens in cigarette smoke, were measured as the environmental carcinogen exposure marker for humans. We evaluated urinary exposure markers for smoking cessation.

METHOD

In this study, we measured cigarette smoke exposure markers, such as urinary cotinine, PAH exposure markers, such as urinary 1-hydroxypyrene (1-OHP), 2-naphthol (2-NP) and 1-naphthol (1-NP), as well as a methylating chemical exposure marker, 7-methylguanine (7-MeG). The before smoking cessation levels of these markers, and the after smoking cessation levels were then compared. Eighteen subjects participated in this smoking cessation program.

RESULTS

Levels of all of four markers were found to have decreased by 19-54% after smoking cessation. Urinary cotinine, 1-OHP, 2-NP and 7-MeG levels were found to have significantly decreased after smoking cessation. There were positive correlations between cotinine and three urinary PAH markers and between 1-OHP, 2-NP and 7-MeG.

CONCLUSION

PAH metabolites were better biomarkers of smoking cessation than 7-MeG. Analyzing urinary metabolites or urinary DNA adducts is suitable for epidemiological studies.