Free radicals are important contributors to the toxicity of smoke. However, very few specific radical species have been identified in smoke, even though they are often identified as the cause of the oxidative damage observed from smoke inhalation. The first and most reactive radicals produced in smoke are carbon-centered radicals (R,). A new method will be applied to characterize these radicals, and a modification of the method is proposed to characterize hydroxy (,OH) and alkoxy (RO?) radicals. In each case the radicals are trapped to form stable, fluorescent diamagnetic adducts which are analyzed by high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC). Coupling to a mass sectrometer (LC-MS) will allow the radical species to be identified. The technique will first be applied to tobacco smoke, but it is applicable to any source of toxic fumes. The specific goals of this proposal are to (i) chemically characterize the radicals present in smoke; (ii) distinguish particle-bound from true gas-phase radicals; (iii) extend the method to apply to oxygen-centered radicals; (iv) begin to identify parameters that control radical concentrations in smoke. Identification of radicals will lead to a better understanding of their source and fates in inhaled smoke. These results will also provide a benchmark to compare toxicity of different types of smoke (tobacco, marijuana, cocaine, wood, etc.) and assist in evaluating claims of """"""""safer"""""""" cigarettes. ? ?
| Hu, Na; Green, Sarah A (2014) Acetyl Radical Generation in Cigarette Smoke: Quantification and Simulations. Atmos Environ (1994) 95:142-150 |
