Nicotine in Hair of Smokers and Non‐Smokers: Sampling Procedure and Gas Chromatographic/Mass Spectrometric Analysis

Abstract

A gas chromatographic/mass spectrometric method for analysis of nicotine in scalp hair and measurements of nicotine in hair from 20 smokers and non-smokers with a one year interval are presented. The gas chromatographic/mass spectrometric method, based on selected ion monitoring of the ion m/z 162, with ions m/z 133 and 84 as qualifier ions, allows a highly selective and sensitive detection of nicotine in hair samples avoiding interference from other chemicals present in hair. Nicotine is extracted after alkaline dissolution i 5M NaOH. The sampling procedure takes into account that significant amounts of nicotine in hair is probably adsorbed and deposited from atmospheric air. In consequence, the hair samples must be taken from a site with sufficient contact with surrounding air and the measured concentration of nicotine must be related to the length of the hair segment and its distance from the scalp. Our study demonstrated very clear and statistically significant differences in the concentrations of nicotine in hair from smokers and non-smokers, a high reproducibility of hair nicotine measurements over time, and that the presented method is sensitive enough to detect individual changes not only in smoking habits, but also in environmental nicotine exposure.

Fetal Growth and Length of Gestation in Relation to Prenatal Exposure to Environmental Tobacco Smoke Assessed by Hair Nicotine Concentration

“…The determinant of interest was prenatal exposure to ETS. Exposure assessment was based on the nicotine concentration of hair taken after delivery (34). We also used maternity clinic medical records, the questionnaire at the birth clinic, and birth registry data as additional sources of information.…”

“…Both of these biomarkers share a common feature of having a short half-life (4), and therefore they measure exposure only during a couple of days before sampling. Hair nicotine is a new promising biomarker; the method is noninvasive, and a sample of 0-2 cm from the proximal hair gives a good estimate of the exposure during the past 2 months (34,35). Taking into account the time frame, a hair sample at birth would describe exposure during the last trimester, which is considered the most important period for fetal growth.…”

Method validation for measurement of hair nicotine level in nonsmokers

“…The optimized analytical method for hair nicotine analysis using an isotope dilution gas chromatography-mass spectrometry was adapted with modification using a method reported by Kintz (1992) and Zahlsen and Nilsen (1994). Hair samples from a non-smoking, non-SHS-exposed individual were collected for method optimization experiments.…”

“…Hair nicotine concentrations have been assessed using various chromatographic techniques, including high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with an ultraviolet detector (Pichini et al, 1997a), an electrochemical detector (Mahoney and Al-Delaimy, 2001), and mass spectrometry (MS, MS/MS) (Chetiyanukornkul et al, 2004;Kronstrand et al, 2004;Pirkle et al, 2006); and gas chromatography (GC) with a nitrogen-phosphorus detector or mass spectrometry (Kintz, 1992;Zahlsen and Nilsen, 1994;Torano and van Kan, 2003). Immunoassay techniques, such as enzymelinked immunosorbent assay, fluorescence immunoassay and radioimmunoassay, have also been used (Eliopoulos et al, 1994(Eliopoulos et al, , 1996Klein and Koren, 1999;Florescu et al, 2007).…”

Physical exercise increases plasma concentrations of nicotine during treatment with a nicotine patch.

“…Plasma nicotine concentration was assayed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry as previously described [6,7]. The limit of detection was 0.5 ng ml-1, and RSD < 20% (n = 5).…”