Primary aromatic amines (PAAs) in third-hand smoke collected from waterpipe/cigarette cafes: Level and exposure assessment

Third-hand smoke (THS) has been recognized as a main exposure route to the chemical content of tobacco products. In the present study, potential exposure of people to primary aromatic amines (PAAs) release from indoor settled dusts in smoking and non-smoking cafes were studied for the first time. Nine compounds of PAAs in the indoor dust samples of waterpipe, cigarettes and non-smoking cafes in Bushehr were measured by using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). The mean concentration levels of Sigma PAAs released through settled indoor dusts of waterpipe, cigarettes and non-smoking cafes were 728.23, 331.37 and 66.11 ng g(-1), respectively. The results showed that the mean concentration levels of Sigma PAAs were ranked as: waterpipe cafes. cigarette cafes. non-smoking cafes. Among the measured PAAs, aniline (ANL) and 2, 6-dimethylaniline (2, 6-DMA) have the highest levels. The findings also showed that the levels of PAAs had a negative and significant relationship (P < 0.05) with "the ventilation rate", "number of window/doors", and "cafe area", but a positive and significant relationship with "the number of active smokers" and "the time from last painting" (P < 0.05). The estimated daily intake (EDI) of PAAs in settled indoor dusts for different age groups (infants, toddlers, children, teenagers, and adults) were ranged from 52.5 to 3832.8 ng kg(-1)-bw day(-1), and EDI value for toddlers was higher than others groups. Although all obtained EDI values were lower than acceptable exposure values recommended by World Health Organization (WHO) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), but chronic exposure can be harmful to health. Hence, more comprehensive studies are needed to evaluate different chemical contents and potential health effects of THS.