Evidence map›Paper›PMID 30185880›Full record

ArticleScientific reports2018

Levels of 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK) in raw wastewater as an innovative perspective for investigating population-wide exposure to third-hand smoke.

Foon Yin Lai, Katerina Lympousi, Frederic Been, Lisa Benaglia, Robin Udrisard, Olivier Delémont, Pierre Esseiva, Nikolaos S Thomaidis, Adrian Covaci, Alexander L N van Nuijs

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Scientific reports, 2018. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 8 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
8citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
1.4field-weighted citation impact, top 19% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

8 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 22 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Analysis of Assessment Methods for Detecting Nicotine Residue and Its Impact on Humans: A Systematic Review.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2025
    Pooled it
  2. Article
  3. Review
  4. Article
  5. Importance of wastewater-based epidemiology for detecting and monitoring SARS-CoV-2.Case studies in chemical and environmental engineering · 2022
    Article
  6. Review
  7. Article
  8. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors at 3 institutions in 3 countries.

Foon Yin LaiToxicological Centre, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610, Antwerp, Belgium. foonyin.lai@uantwerpen.be.ORCID 0000-0001-8996-6714
Katerina LympousiLaboratory of Analytical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis Zografou, 15771, Athens, Greece.
Frederic BeenToxicological Centre, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610, Antwerp, Belgium.
Lisa BenagliaEcole des Sciences Criminelles, University of Lausanne, 1015, Lausanne, Switzerland.
Robin UdrisardEcole des Sciences Criminelles, University of Lausanne, 1015, Lausanne, Switzerland.
Olivier DelémontEcole des Sciences Criminelles, University of Lausanne, 1015, Lausanne, Switzerland.
Pierre EsseivaEcole des Sciences Criminelles, University of Lausanne, 1015, Lausanne, Switzerland.
Nikolaos S ThomaidisLaboratory of Analytical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Panepistimiopolis Zografou, 15771, Athens, Greece.
Adrian CovaciToxicological Centre, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610, Antwerp, Belgium. adrian.covaci@uantwerpen.be.
Alexander L N van NuijsToxicological Centre, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610, Antwerp, Belgium.
University of Antwerp · BEUniversity of Lausanne · CHNational and Kapodistrian University of Athens · GR

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Tobacco smoking is the major cause of many chronic diseases, especially lung cancer. Knowledge about population-wide tobacco use and exposure is essential to characterise its burden on public health and evaluate policy efficacy. Obtaining such knowledge remains challenging with current methods (e.g., surveys, biomonitoring) but can be achievable with wastewater analysis, a promising tool of retrieving epidemiology information. This study examined population-wide exposure to tobacco toxicants and carcinogens through wastewater analysis and explored relationships among these chemicals. Cotinine, trans-3'-hydroxycotinine, anabasine, anatabine and 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK) were analysed in samples from Greece, Switzerland and Belgium, where tobacco control policies are different. Measured per-capita mass loads were ranked as: nicotine biomarkers ≫ tobacco markers > carcinogens. Relationships between nicotine biomarkers and tobacco markers implied substantial use of non-tobacco nicotine items besides tobacco products. Geographic profiles of tobacco markers revealed higher levels in Geneva and Athens than Geraardsbergen and Ninove. Environmental third-hand smoke led to NNK detection, with elevated levels observed in Athens where indoor smoking is widespread, posing potential health risks to the population. Our novel outcomes are relevant for public health authorities as they provide indications about external exposure and can thus be used to plan and evaluate tobacco control policies.

Indexed as

AlkaloidsAnabasineBelgiumCarcinogensCotinineGreeceHumansNitrosaminesPublic HealthPyridinesSwitzerlandTobacco ProductsTobacco Smoke PollutionWastewater4-(N-methyl-N-nitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanoneAlkaloidsAnabasineanatabineCarcinogensCotininehydroxycotinineNitrosaminesPyridinesTobacco Smoke PollutionWastewater

Identifiers

PMID30185880
PMCPMC6125383
OpenAlexW2888995502

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.