Associations between Opium Route of Use and Exposure to Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons as Potential Carcinogenicity Mechanism.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Opium consumption is carcinogenic, but the impact of the route of use (smoking vs. ingestion) on exposure to potential proposed carcinogens is understudied.

Methods

As a nested study within the Golestan Cohort Study, we gathered comprehensive histories of teriak (raw opium), shireh (refined opium sap), and tobacco use by validated questionnaires and selected 100 long-term opium users (50 exclusively ingesting and 50 exclusively smoking), 15 cigarette smokers, and a reference sample using neither. We analyzed spot urine samples for seven hydroxy polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) and cotinine. PAH biomarker concentrations were creatinine-corrected to account for urinary dilution and adjusted for demographic factors and opium use patterns using multivariable lin

SUBMITTER: Naghash M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12265894 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature