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Polyurethane-Based Face Mask as a Sampling Device for Environmental Tobacco Smoke
Wan Chan1,2, Wanlin Guo1, Jian Zhen Yu1,2
1Department of Chemistry, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong.
Analytical Chemistry
|October 5, 2021
Summary
A new method uses polyurethane foam face masks to measure secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure by detecting nicotine and nitrosamines. This convenient, inexpensive approach offers sensitive, selective, and large-scale monitoring of SHS health impacts.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health
- Analytical Chemistry
- Toxicology
Background:
- Environmental tobacco smoke (ETS), or secondhand smoke, contains carcinogens linked to severe diseases like cancer and heart conditions.
- Existing methods for assessing ETS exposure lack sensitivity, specificity, or are invasive.
- Accurate monitoring is essential for understanding and mitigating the health risks of ETS.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and validate a novel, sensitive, and selective method for personal exposure assessment to ETS.
- To utilize polyurethane foam face masks as a sampling medium for ETS constituents.
- To enable convenient and large-scale monitoring of ETS exposure.
Main Methods:
- Collected tobacco smoke-specific nicotine and nitrosamines using polyurethane foam face masks.
- Employed tandem mass spectrometry with isotope-dilution detection for quantification.
- Validated the method against the NIOSH 2551 standard method for nicotine.
Main Results:
- The developed method accurately quantitated ETS exposure in diverse indoor and outdoor environments.
- Detected nicotine levels from approximately 0.20 mg/m³ near outdoor smoking areas to 5.2 mg/m³ in rooms with burning cigarettes.
- Achieved a high time resolution of measurements, as short as 5 minutes.
Conclusions:
- Polyurethane foam face masks provide a convenient, inexpensive, and effective sampling medium for ETS exposure monitoring.
- The new method surpasses traditional approaches by eliminating the need for personal sampling pumps.
- Facilitates widespread and accurate assessment of personal exposure to secondhand smoke.
