PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - S S Hecht
TI  - Carcinogen derived biomarkers: applications in studies of human exposure to secondhand tobacco smoke
AID  - 10.1136/tc.2002.002816
DP  - 2004 Mar 01
TA  - Tobacco Control
PG  - i48--i56
VI  - 13
IP  - suppl 1
4099  - http://tobaccocontrol.bmj.com/content/13/suppl_1/i48.short
4100  - http://tobaccocontrol.bmj.com/content/13/suppl_1/i48.full
SO  - Tob Control2004 Mar 01; 13
AB  - Objective: To review the literature on carcinogen derived biomarkers of exposure to secondhand tobacco smoke (SHS). These biomarkers are specifically related to known carcinogens in tobacco smoke and include urinary metabolites, DNA adducts, and blood protein adducts. Method: Published reviews and the current literature were searched for relevant articles. Results: The most consistently elevated biomarker in people exposed to SHS was 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanol (NNAL) and its glucuronides (NNAL-Gluc), urinary metabolites of the tobacco specific lung carcinogen 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK). The tobacco specificity of this biomarker as well as its clear relation to an established lung carcinogen are particularly appropriate for its application in studies of SHS exposure. Conclusion: The results of the available carcinogen derived biomarker studies provide biochemical data which support the conclusion, based on epidemiologic investigations, that SHS causes lung cancer in non-smokers.