Compound that leaves its traces in smoker’s breath for 72 hours found
May 21st, 2010 - 5:26 pm ICT by ANIWashington, May 21 (ANI): A team of Catalan researchers has discovered the presence of a compound called 2,5-dimethylfuran, which lingers in a smoker’s breath for 3 days.
This substance does not appear in the breath of non-smokers, unless they have been in direct contact with tobacco smoke for a long time. However, it may be detected in a passive smoker if he or she has been in direct contact with smoke for a long time.
“2,5-dimethylfuran cannot be detected in breath samples of non-smokers, meaning that the only way to know if a person has smoked in the last 72 hours is to use its qualitative determination”, Juan Manuel Sánchez, researcher with the Chemistry Department of the University of Girona (UdG) and co-author of the study, reports to SINC.
“Benzene, which is sometimes appears in the bibliography, is only useful when tobacco consumption is relatively high and in short periods -between 1 and 2 hours- after having smoked a cigarette, which means it is of no use from a practical point of view”, explains Sánchez.
To prove their theory, the researchers collected breath samples of 100 smokers and 104 non-smokers, who were first asked to answer a questionnaire on their habits.
The results confirm that the presence of 2,5-dimethylfuran is associated with the act of smoking.
The study appears in the journal Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry. (ANI)
- Postmenopausal smoking boosts sex hormone levels - Sep 01, 2011
- Passive smoking can lead to mental illness - Jun 08, 2010
- Brain imaging demonstrates that former smokers have greater willpower - Apr 27, 2011
- More young adults into social smoking - Feb 22, 2012
- Tobacco smoking negatively affects teens' brains - Mar 03, 2011
- Following cancer prevention guidelines lower risk of death from all-causes - Apr 16, 2011
- Secondhand smoke exposure tied to psychiatric distress, illness - Jun 08, 2010
- Passive smoking tied to poorer mental health - Jun 08, 2010
- Smoking in open areas ups breathing problems in non-smokers: Study - Aug 04, 2010
- How cigarette smoke affects smokers - Apr 07, 2011
- Secondhand smoke exposure 'ups hearing loss risk' - Nov 16, 2010
- India world's second largest tobacco user: Report (Lead) - Oct 19, 2010
- Mizoram launches 'No smoking' campaign - Jul 03, 2011
- Baby's nappy reveals mum's smoking habits - Aug 27, 2010
- Tobacco carcinogen levels high in kids living with smokers - Nov 10, 2010
Tags: analytical and bioanalytical chemistry, benzene, breath samples, chemistry department, cigarette, co author, dimethylfuran, direct contact, girona, passive smoker, point of view, qualitative determination, questionnaire, researcher, short periods, smokers, tobacco consumption, tobacco smoke, traces, udg