Urinary metabolites of furan in waterpipe tobacco smokers compared to non-smokers in home settings in the US

The role of endogenous versus exogenous sources in the exposome of putative genotoxins and consequences for risk assessment

“…However, a strong correlation was demonstrated between smoking and the excretion of NAcCys-BDA-Lys sulfoxide which was significantly increased in the urine of smokers from three different cohorts and decreased following cessation of smoking (Grill et al 2015 ). Similarly, analysis of urinary furan metabolites in waterpipe tobacco smokers revealed a significant increase in the two metabolites NAcCys-BDA-Lys sulfoxide and NAcCys-BDA-NAcLys in waterpipe tobacco smokers compared to non-smokers (Kassem et al 2020 ). While metabolic profiling of rat urine revealed some promising biomarkers of furan exposure, there is no indication that DNA adducts may present suitable biomarkers for furan exposure.…”

“…Amounts from 20.2 to 37.3 µg of furan/cigarette were reported (Hatzinikolaou et al 2006 ; Pouli et al 2003 ). The consumption of waterpipe tobacco is also an exogenous source of furan exposure (Kassem et al 2020 ).…”

Furan Metabolites Are Elevated in Users of Various Tobacco Products and Cannabis

“…This is consistent with the elevated blood furan levels in smokers . Metabolite 3 was also higher in exclusive waterpipe smokers relative to nonsmokers …”

“…32 To test the hypothesis that cannabis smokers and e-cigarette users may be exposed to furan, we measured the levels of furan metabolites in cannabis smokers or users of alternative tobacco products such as e-cigarettes and reduced nicotine cigarettes. The levels of furan metabolites were quantified using our established LC-MS/MS assay 27,29 in 55 nonsmokers, 21 exclusive e-cigarette users, 15 exclusive cannabis smokers, 16 co-users of tobacco and cannabis, and 22 cigarette smokers at baseline and after smoking very low nicotine cigarettes (VLNCs, Spectrum cigarettes with 0.4 mg of nicotine/g of tobacco) for 4 days. 33−36 Details of the experimental and biostatistical methods are provided in the Supporting Information.…”

A Waterpipe is not a Cigarette, it is not Even a Conventional Pipe

“…These are the steepness of the temperature increase and the maximum temperature finally reached in the tobacco head during the smoking process, as well as the levels of carbohydrates and humectants being already present in the unburned tobacco." The shisha industry is under attack, not only due to flavorful products and perceived attractiveness by public health authorities (16), but also by those who chose to focus on toxicity related to sugar-derived toxicants but ignore the toxicants from the charcoal heating sources (17). We would not accept the test results from other tobacco products whose integrity was compromised by the testing protocol.…”