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Characterization of acrylonitrile exposure in the United States based on urinary n-acetyl-S-(2-cyanoethyl)-l-cysteine (2CYEMA): NHANES 2011–2016

Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology volume 31, pages 377–385 (2021)Cite this article

Abstract

Background

Acrylonitrile is a possible human carcinogen that is used in polymers and formed in tobacco smoke. We assessed acrylonitrile exposure in the US population by measuring its urinary metabolites N-acetyl-S-(4-hydroxy-2-methyl-2-buten-1-yl)-l-cysteine (2CYEMA) and N-acetyl-S-(1-cyano-2-hydroxyethyl)-l-cysteine (1CYHEMA) in participants from the 2011–2016 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

Objective

To assessed acrylonitrile exposure using population-based biomonitoring data of the US civilian, non-institutionalized population.

Methods

Laboratory data for 8057 participants were reported for 2CYEMA and 1CYHEMA using ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry. Exclusive tobacco smokers were distinguished from non-users using a combination of self-reporting and serum cotinine data. We used multiple linear regression models to fit 2CYEMA concentrations with sex, age, race/Hispanic origin, and tobacco user group as predictor variables.

Results

The median 2CYEMA level was higher for exclusive cigarette smokers (145 µg/g creatinine) than for non-users (1.38 µg/g creatinine). Compared to unexposed individuals (serum cotinine ≤0.015 ng/ml) and controlling for confounders, presumptive second-hand tobacco smoke exposure (serum cotinine >0.015 to ≤10 ng/ml and 0 cigarettes per day, CPD) was significantly associated with 36% higher 2CYEMA levels (p < 0.0001). Smoking 1–10 CPD was significantly associated with 6720% higher 2CYEMA levels (p < 0.0001).

Significance

We show that tobacco smoke is an important source of acrylonitrile exposure in the US population and provide important biomonitoring data on acrylonitrile exposure.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank the Volatile Organic Compound Metabolites Team, Tobacco and Volatiles Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for the laboratory analysis of the NHANES biospecimens. The views and opinions expressed in this report are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views, official policy or position of the US Department of Health and Human Services or any of its affiliated institutions or agencies. Use of trade names is for identification purposes and does not imply endorsement by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Public Health Service, or the US Department of Health and Human Services.

Funding

NHANES biomarker measurements were partially funded by an interagency agreement between Center for Tobacco Products, FDA and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This work was supported by the US Food and Drug Administration, Center for Tobacco Products (Inter-Agency Agreement #224-10-9022).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Division of Laboratory Sciences, Tobacco and Volatiles Branch, Atlanta, GA, 30341, USA

    Víctor R. De Jesús, Luyu Zhang, Deepak Bhandari, Wanzhe Zhu & Benjamin C. Blount

  2. Office of Science, Center for Tobacco Products, US Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, 20993, USA

    Joanne T. Chang

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  1. Víctor R. De Jesús
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Correspondence to Víctor R. De Jesús.

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De Jesús, V.R., Zhang, L., Bhandari, D. et al. Characterization of acrylonitrile exposure in the United States based on urinary n-acetyl-S-(2-cyanoethyl)-l-cysteine (2CYEMA): NHANES 2011–2016. J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol 31, 377–385 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41370-020-00286-1

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