Spectrophotometric analysis of thiocyanate in saliva and its correlation to tobacco smoking

CHED 363

Bettylou Wahl, bwahl@anl.gov1, Demond Gildon, demondpbb4000@yahoo.com1, and Salim M Diab2. (1) Natural Science Department, University of St. Francis, 1407 Dearborn St., Joliet, IL 60435, (2) Department of Chemistry, University of St. Francis, 500 Wilcox Street, Joliet, IL 60435
The concentration of human saliva thiocyanate has been found to have a direct correlation to cyanide intake. One major source of cyanide intake is hydrogen cyanide, which is formed from the combustion of tobacco. Previous studies have found that smokers have a higher saliva thiocyanate concentration than non-smokers. In our study, saliva samples were taken from 15 non-smokers and 10 smokers at 15 minute intervals. An iron(III) thiocyanate complex was formed and absorbance read at 460 nm for thiocyanate analysis of each sample. No significant difference in saliva thiocyanate concentration was found when comparing smokers and non-smokers at each sample time. Relative standard deviations show that these saliva thiocyanate levels vary more from person to person than within each subject over time. Based on our results, there can be no set saliva thiocyanate concentration level to be used as a gauge to differentiate between smokers and non-smokers.
 

Undergraduate Research Poster Session: Analytical Chemistry
11:00 AM-1:00 PM, Monday, March 26, 2007 Hyatt Regency Chicago -- Riverside Center, Poster

Division of Chemical Education

The 233rd ACS National Meeting, Chicago, IL, March 25-29, 2007