Analysis of exhaled breath from smokers, passive smokers and non‐smokers by solid‐phase microextraction gas chromatography/mass spectrometry

Abstract

In this study, 38 samples of expired air were collected and analyzed from 20 non-smoking volunteers, four passive smokers and 14 smokers (21 women and 17 men). Measurements were carried out using solid-phase microextraction (SPME) as an isolation and preconcentration technique. The determination and identification were accomplished by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Our data showed that ca 32% of all identified compounds in the breath of healthy non-smokers were saturated hydrocarbons. In the breath of smoking and passive smoking volunteers hydrocarbons were predominant, but also present were more exogenous analytes such as furan, acetonitrile and benzene than in the breath of non-smokers. Acetonitrile, furan, 3-methylfuran, 2,5-dimethylfuran, 2-butanone, octane and decane were identified in breath of smoking and passive smoking persons.

Determination of Volatile Organic Compounds for a Systematic Evaluation of Third-Hand Smoking

“…The peaks of acetone, benzene and toluene were also detected in nonsmoker's breath samples; however, these concentrations were clearly higher in the smoker's breath. Additionally, many VOCs were only detected in the smokers' breath; especially, 2,5-DMF has been recognized as a tobacco smoke biomarker in the smoker's breath, 19,20 and actually detected only in the smokers' breath in this work. For all of the smokers' breath samples, the level of ammonia was below the LOD of the commercially-available detection tube.…”

“…A large number of tobacco-related VOCs are included in the smokers' breath, 19 and these compounds could be one of the origins of third-hand smoking. Figure 5 shows a typical chromatogram of a smoker's breath sample.…”

Chemiresistive Sensor Based on One-Dimensional WO3Nanostructures as Non-Invasive Disease Monitors

“…Among these compounds, acetone exhalation is caused by fatty acid oxidation and ketoacidosis in diabetic patients due to lack of insulin [5]. Although a few VOCs are successfully detectable by table-top equipment by techniques such as gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and proton transfer reaction-mass spectrometry (PTR-MS) [6,7], these techniques are not suitable for domestic use, which requires equipment with features such as portability, small form factor, low cost, real-time analysis, and large samples of collected exhaled breath.…”

Exhaled Breath Analysis of Smokers Using CMV-GC/MS

“…Examples of breath collection devices used to contain the exhaled breath sample before pre-concentration are the Bio-VOC sampler [9,32,33], and tedlar bags [34][35][36]. Depending on the size of the collection device, it may be designed to collect a sample of a single exhalation.…”

“…Multiple transfers of the sample between containers increases the chances of sample loss and compromises reproducibility during transfer [2]. In some research studies, the breath sample is transferred from tedlar bags via syringe into glass headspace vials before exposure to SPME fibers [2,36,38]. Sample loss may also occur as consequence of the adsorption and diffusion characteristics of the collection devices' surface material [22,37].…”