Background levels of hydrogen cyanide in human breath measured by infrared cavity ring down spectroscopy

• Published in: Biomarkers Vol. 14; no. 5; pp. 285 - 291
• Main Authors: Stamyr, Kristin, Vaittinen, Olavi, Jaakola, Janne, Guss, Joseph, Metsälä, Markus, Johanson, Gunnar, Halonen, Lauri
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Informa UK Ltd 01.08.2009; Taylor & Francis
• Subjects: Adult; Biological and medical sciences; Breath analysis; Breath Tests - methods; cavity ring down spectroscopy (CRDS); Female; Humans; hydrogen cyanide (HCN); Hydrogen Cyanide - analysis; Male; Medical sciences; Medicin och hälsovetenskap; Middle Aged; Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Sex Characteristics; Spectrophotometry, Infrared - methods; Toxicology; Pseudomonadales; Human; hydrogen cyanide (HCN); Biological marker; Hydrogen cyanides; Spectrometry; Cavity; Ring; Breath analysis; Bacteria; Pseudomonadaceae; Pseudomonas aeruginosa; cavity ring down spectroscopy (CRDS)
• ISSN: 1354-750X; 1366-5804; 1366-5804
• DOI: 10.1080/13547500902903048

Hydrogen cyanide (HCN) in breath has been suggested as a diagnostic tool for cyanide poisoning and for cyanide-producing bacterial infections. To distinguish elevated levels of breath HCN, baseline data are needed. Background levels of HCN were measured in mixed exhaled air from 40 healthy subjects (26 men, 14 women, age 21-61 years; detection limit: 1.5 ppb; median: 4.4 ppb; range <1.5-14 ppb) by near-infrared cavity ring down spectroscopy (CRDS). No correlation was observed with smoking habits, recent meals or age. However, female subjects had slightly higher breath levels of HCN than male subjects. CRDS has not previously been used for this purpose.