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(44-04) Tobacco-specific N-nitrosamines in Moldovan cigarette tobacco. Stepanov, Irina*,1, Carmella, Steven2, Hecht, Stephen2, Duca, Gheorghe1, 1 Moldova State University, Chisinau, Moldova2 University of Minnesota Cancer Center, Minneapolis, U.S.A. ABSTRACT- Tobacco-specific nitrosamines (TSNA) are among the most important and abundant strongly carcinogenic agents in unburned tobacco. The main purpose of the present study is an initial evaluation of TSNA levels in Moldovan cigarette tobacco. Eighteen brands of Moldovan cigarettes, representing 78.3% of all brands produced in Moldova, have been used for analysis. Four TSNA - N-nitrosonornicotine (NNN), 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK), N-nitrosoanatabine (NAT) and N-nitrosoanabasine (NAB) - were analyzed by GC-TEA method. Levels of TSNA in most Moldovan cigarettes were substantially lower than in the American commercial brands. Mean levels of NNN in the three commercial American brands were 3.32 ± 0.88 (S.D.) mg/g compared to 0.579 ± 0.548 mg/g, range 0.093-2.091 mg/g (N=18), in the cigarettes produced in Moldova. For NNK and NAT, mean levels in the American brands were 1.57 ± 0.178 and 1.99 ± 0.579 mg/g, respectively, while the corresponding values for Moldovan cigarettes were 0.193 ± 0.089, range 0.104-0.484 mg/g, and 0.160±0.114 mg/g, range 0.055-0.481 mg/g. The highest levels of NNN- 1.104 to 2.091 mg/g -were observed in brands that contain thoroughly processed tobacco: Tandem, Chisinau, Temp, and Flueras extra, which are widely used in particular groups of smokers. Levels of NNK and NAT were also generally higher in these brands than in the other Moldovan cigarette tobaccos. A positive correlation was observed between the levels of NNN and other TSNA (P<0.0001), but there was no correlation between levels of nicotine or nitrate and TSNA. In the Republic of Moldova, about 70% of men and 20% of women 20 to 40 years old are smokers. The results of this study would be useful in heightening the awareness of the dangers of smoking in Moldova, and can be envisioned as the initial step in the control of tobacco-related cancer in this republic. Key words: cigarette tobacco, nitrosamines, analysis, lung cancer |
