Exhaled breath analysis reveals new insights into the exposome of nicotine & tobacco product users

Smoking remains a leading cause of preventable illness and death. As awareness of its dangers grows, so does the need for alternative nicotine products. In our latest study, we explored the exhaled breath profiles of different nicotine users to identify unique biomarkers. We tested five groups: combustible cigarettes, heated tobacco, electronic cigarettes, smokeless tobacco, and nicotine replacement therapy, alongside non-users. Our findings? Exhaled breath contains volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that reveal much about nicotine use.

Key Takeaways:

• **Combustible Cigarettes:** Elevated levels of benzene, toluene, and styrene.
• **Electronic Cigarettes:** Unique presence of α-pinene and p-cymene.
• **Heated Tobacco:** High levels of γ-butyrolactone.
• **Nicotine Replacement Therapy:** Increased menthol and α-pinene.
• **Smokeless Tobacco:** Higher ethyl acetate levels.

Our findings reveal that EB is a powerful, non-invasive matrix for detecting volatile organic compounds (VOCs) unique to each nicotine product. This study demonstrated the exceptional potential of EB offering a new dimension to decipher the absolute exposure between different nicotine product users,