Simultaneous Analysis of Biomarkers in Human Hair for Evaluating Chronic Tobacco Smoke Exposure and Stress/Relaxation Using Online In-Tube Solid-Phase Microextraction Coupled with Liquid Chromatography–Tandem Mass Spectrometry

    February 2026 in “ Molecules ”
    Hiroyuki Kataoka, Akiko Tsuzaki, Sae Kitagawa, Kentaro Ehara
    TLDR A new method can quickly and accurately measure tobacco exposure and stress using a small hair sample.
    The study presents a novel, sensitive method for analyzing nine biomarkers in human hair to evaluate chronic tobacco smoke exposure and stress/relaxation. The biomarkers include nicotine and cotinine for tobacco exposure, cortisol, testosterone, and dehydroepiandrosterone for stress, and serotonin, melatonin, dopamine, and oxytocin for relaxation. Using in-tube solid-phase microextraction and liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry, the method achieves rapid detection with good linearity and low detection limits. It requires minimal hair sample and preparation, making it a non-invasive approach to assess the relationship between long-term tobacco exposure and chronic stress.
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