Urinary concentrations of monohydroxylated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in adults from the U.S. Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) Study Wave 1 (2013–2014)

Introduction:
This text provides an analysis of the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) Study Wave 1 (2013-2014) regarding exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) among tobacco product users. The study aims to evaluate exposure to PAHs among never users and tobacco product users, including users of combustible and non-combustible tobacco products.

Key Points:

* The PATH Study measured urinary concentrations of seven OH-PAHs using enzymatic hydrolysis, online solid phase extraction, and high performance liquid chromatography isotope dilution tandem mass spectrometry.
* Participants were categorized into three main tobacco user groups (never-tobacco user, exclusive current established combustible products user, and exclusive current established non-combustible products user) and four specific product user groups (exclusive current established cigarette user, exclusive current established smokeless product user, exclusive current established e-cigarette users, and never-tobacco user).
* Combustible products users had significantly higher GMs than non-combustible products users and never users for all biomarkers.
* Cigarette users had the highest GMs compared to other tobacco-product users.
* GMs of 2-hydroxyfluorene, 3-hydroxyfluorene and I:2,3-hydroxyphenanthrene were significantly higher in SLT users than in e-cigarette users.
* Everyday cigarette and SLT users had significantly higher GMs for most biomarkers than some days' users.
* By contrast, everyday e-cigarette users' GMs of most biomarkers did not differ significantly from those in some days' e-cigarette users.

Main Message:
The study demonstrates that users of tobacco products had higher PAH urinary biomarker concentrations compared to never users, and concentrations differed by type and frequency of tobacco product use. The results suggest that the use of tobacco products, particularly combustible ones, significantly contributes to PAH exposure and highlights the importance of monitoring and regulating tobacco product use to protect public health.

Wang, Yuesong, Lee-Yang Wong, Lei Meng, Erin N. Pittman, Debra A. Trinidad, Kendra L. Hubbard, Alisha Etheredge, et al. “Urinary Concentrations of Monohydroxylated Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Adults from the U.S. Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) Study Wave 1 (2013–2014).” Environment International 123 (February 2019): 201–8. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2018.11.068.