Volume 28, Issue 5 (Iran South Med J 2026)
Iran South Med J 2026, 28(5): 826-837 |
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Mansouri Ardkapan M, Hashemi S E, Dobaradaran S, Afrashteh S, Arfaeinia H. The effect of Smoking Pattern on Serum Level of Benzo(a)Pyrene (BaP) in Women from Bushehr Province. Iran South Med J 2026; 28 (5) :826-837
URL: http://ismj.bpums.ac.ir/article-1-2451-en.html
URL: http://ismj.bpums.ac.ir/article-1-2451-en.html
Maryam Mansouri Ardkapan 
, Seyed Enayat Hashemi1 , Sina Dobaradaran2 , Sima Afrashteh3 , Hossein Arfaeinia *4
, Seyed Enayat Hashemi1 , Sina Dobaradaran2 , Sima Afrashteh3 , Hossein Arfaeinia *4
1- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Health and Nutrition, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr, Iran
2- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Health and Nutrition, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr, Iran
Systems Environmental Health and Energy Research Center, the Persian Gulf Biomedical Sciences Research Institute, Bushehr Uni-versity of Medical Sciences, Bushehr, Iran
3- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Health, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr, Iran
4- Addiction and Lifestyle Research Center, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr, Iran ,arfaeiniah@bpums.ac.ir
2- Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Health and Nutrition, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr, Iran
Systems Environmental Health and Energy Research Center, the Persian Gulf Biomedical Sciences Research Institute, Bushehr Uni-versity of Medical Sciences, Bushehr, Iran
3- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Health, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr, Iran
4- Addiction and Lifestyle Research Center, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr, Iran ,
Abstract: (10 Views)
Background: The carcinogenic compound benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) is a polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon that threatens women’s health through direct or indirect tobacco use, primarily due to its significant potential for long-term systemic accumulation and toxicity.
Materials and Methods: In this study, serum levels of benzo[a]pyrene, a carcinogenic compound belonging to the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) group, were measured in women from Bushehr Province to assess their level of exposure. Blood samples were collected from three groups of women: active tobacco users, those exposed to secondhand/thirdhand smoke, and those with neither direct use nor exposure. Serum BaP concentrations were then determined using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS).
Results: The findings showed that the mean serum concentrations of BaP in active users, passive users, and non-users were 15.58 ± 9.51, 8.11 ± 8.36, and 4.23 ± 5.61 ng/mL, respectively, with significantly higher levels observed in active users compared to the other groups (P < 0.001).
Conclusion: This study indicated that exposure to hookah and cigarette smoke represents a potential risk factor for exposure to the carcinogenic compound BaP. Therefore, based on the present findings, it can be concluded that women who are directly or indirectly exposed to hookah or cigarette smoke are at potential risk of carcinogenic effects. The results of this study highlight the need for increasing public awareness, implementing targeted educational programs, and adopting effective preventive policies to reduce women’s exposure to hookah and cigarette smoke—particularly in household and social environments—in order to prevent adverse and long-term health consequences associated with carcinogenic compounds such as BaP.
Materials and Methods: In this study, serum levels of benzo[a]pyrene, a carcinogenic compound belonging to the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) group, were measured in women from Bushehr Province to assess their level of exposure. Blood samples were collected from three groups of women: active tobacco users, those exposed to secondhand/thirdhand smoke, and those with neither direct use nor exposure. Serum BaP concentrations were then determined using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS).
Results: The findings showed that the mean serum concentrations of BaP in active users, passive users, and non-users were 15.58 ± 9.51, 8.11 ± 8.36, and 4.23 ± 5.61 ng/mL, respectively, with significantly higher levels observed in active users compared to the other groups (P < 0.001).
Conclusion: This study indicated that exposure to hookah and cigarette smoke represents a potential risk factor for exposure to the carcinogenic compound BaP. Therefore, based on the present findings, it can be concluded that women who are directly or indirectly exposed to hookah or cigarette smoke are at potential risk of carcinogenic effects. The results of this study highlight the need for increasing public awareness, implementing targeted educational programs, and adopting effective preventive policies to reduce women’s exposure to hookah and cigarette smoke—particularly in household and social environments—in order to prevent adverse and long-term health consequences associated with carcinogenic compounds such as BaP.
Keywords: Hookah and cigarette smoking, Second hand and third hand smoke, Benzo[a]pyrene, Women, Biomonitoring
Type of Study: Original |
Subject:
Environmental Health
Received: 2026/01/20 | Accepted: 2026/02/24 | Published: 2026/05/25
Received: 2026/01/20 | Accepted: 2026/02/24 | Published: 2026/05/25
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