Smoking is associated with elevated blood level of volatile organic compounds: a population-based analysis of NHANES 2017–2018

BACKGROUND: The study aims to explore the association between cigarette smoking with blood exposure to volatile organic compounds using population data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2017–2018. METHODS: Based on the data of NHANES 2017–2018, we identified 1117 participants aged 18 to 65 years, who had complete VOCs testing data and filled out the Smoking-Cigarette Use and Volatile Toxicant questionnaires. The participants consisted of 214 dual-smoking persons, 41 E-cigarette smokers, 293 combustible-cigarette smokers and 569 non-smokers. We used One-way ANOVA and Welch’s ANOVA to compare differences of VOCs concentration among 4 groups and multivariable regression model to confirm the factors associated with VOCs concentration. RESULTS: In dual-smoking and combustible-cigarette smokers, blood concentration of 2,5-Dimethylfuran, Benzene, Benzonitrile, Furan, Isobutyronitrile were higher than non-smokers. When compared with people who never smoked, E-cigarette smokers had similar blood concentrations of VOCs. Blood concentrations of Benzene, Furan, and Isobutyronitrile were significant higher in combustible-cigarette smokers than in E-cigarette smokers. In the multivariable regression model, dual-smoking and combustible-cigarette smoking were associated with elevated blood concentrations of several VOCs except 1,4-Dichlorobenzene, while E-cigarette smoking was only associated with elevated 2,5-Dimethylfuran concentration. CONCLUSIONS: Smoking, mainly dual-smoking and combustible-cigarette smoking, is associated with elevated blood concentration of VOCs, while the effect is weak in E-cigarette smoking. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13690-023-01070-x.