Table 2.
Biomarkers of tobacco exposure
| Biomarker | Precursor | Specimen | t½ | Tobacco specific | Other sources |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nicotine* | Nicotine | Blood, urine, saliva, hair | 1–2 h | Yes | Nicotine replacement products |
| Cotinine* | Nicotine | Blood, urine, saliva, hair | 16–18 h | Yes | Nicotine replacement products |
| Anatabine* | Anatabine | Urine | 10–16 h | Yes | None |
| NNAL, NNAL-glucuronides | NNK (TSNA) | Blood, urine | 6 week | Yes | None |
| Exhaled CO | Carbon monoxide | Exhaled air | 2–6 h | No | Traffic, body formation |
| Carboxyhemoglobin | carbon monoxide | Blood | 4–6 h | No | Traffic, body formation |
| 1-Hydroxypyrene and other polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) metabolites | PAHs | Urine | 20 h | No | Traffic, grilled meat, occupation, biomass combustion in homes |
| Mercopturic acid metabolites | 1,3-Butadiene | Urine | – | No | Traffic, combustion products |
| Mercopturic acid metabolites | Acrolein | Urine | – | No | Traffic, combustion products |
| Acetonitrile | Acetonitrile | Urine, blood, exhaled air | 32 h | No | None |
| S-Phenyl-mercapturic acid | Benzene | Urine | 9 h | No | Traffic, combustion products |
| Thiocyanate | Hydrogen cyanide | Serum, saliva, urine | 7–14 days | No | Diet |
NNAL 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanol; NNAL-gluc 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanol glucuronide; NNK 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone; TSNA tobacco-specific nitrosamines; PAH polycylcic aromatic hydrocarbons
In studies of smoking cessation, anatabine is recommended as nicotine replacement therapies will lead to the presence of nicotine and cotinine without any tobacco exposure