Total NNAL in urine has emerged as a candidate biomarker for determining the level of environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) exposure in non-smokers. Our aim is to develop a sensitive stable isotope dilution liquid chromatography electrosprayionization multiple reaction monitoring mass spectrometry method suitable for quantitation of low levels of total NNAL in non-smoker urine. Here, we describe a novel derivatization of urinary NNAL by alkylation at the pyridine nitrogen resultingin the formation of a quaternized/pre-ionized derivative leading to enhancedsensitivity. Samples were analyzed on a reversed-phase nano-LC system coupledto a triple quadruple mass spectrometer equipped with a nano-spray source. Standardcurves were linear from 0.1 to 20 pg/mL of NNAL in urine with a typical r2> 0.99. Among 50 non-smokers total NNAL concentrations ranged from undetectableto 25 pg/mL urine. The method met the criteria of = 15% precision and accuracybetween 85 % and 115 %.

Sensitive liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry method for the
quantification of low levels of 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanol (NNAL)
in urine of non-smokers

240th National Meeting (2010)

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Sensitive liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry method for the quantification of low levels of 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanol (NNAL) in urine of non-smokers