ABSTRACT
The low levels of thiocyanate (SCN) normally present in body fluids increase with chronic exposure to cyanide. Cyanide (CN- ) is a fast-acting, potentially deadly chemical which prevents or inhibits cellular respiration and inactivation of cytochrome oxidase killing the cell. Humans are exposed to cyanide from dietary, industrial, environmental and other sources. Tobacco smoking is an important source of cyanide exposure. After absorption, cyanides are readily distributed in the body through the blood and are converted to thiocyanate by sulphur transferase enzyme. Thiocyanates are removed from the body through urine. Thus, the determination of urine SCN is a necessary study in establishing the extent of cyanide overload. This study was therefore set to evaluate the concentration of thiocyanate in urine of smokers (n = 128) and non-smokers (n = 123) aged between 20-70 yrs as a biomarker of cyanide exposure. The sampling covered Kahawa Wendani, Kahawa Sukari, Githurai, Ruiru, Kiwanja and Kenyatta University in Nairobi and Thika, Kenya. Information on factors that influence the accumulation of cyanide was assessed using a questionnaire. The UV-visible spectrometer was used to determine the concentration of the thiocyanate using the picrate paper method, developed by Bradbury et al. The mean thiocyanate measured in the urine of smokers was 3.89 ± 0.17 mg/L and that of non-smokers was 1.99 ± 0.12 mg/L. The mean SCN levels in smokers were significantly higher than those of non-smokers (P
Kemunto, N (2021). Determination Of Thiocyanate Among Smokers And Nonsmokers Using Urine As A Biological Indicator And Other Contributing Factors Of Cyanide Exposure. Afribary. Retrieved from https://afribary.com/works/determination-of-thiocyanate-among-smokers-and-nonsmokers-using-urine-as-a-biological-indicator-and-other-contributing-factors-of-cyanide-exposure
Kemunto, Nyachoti "Determination Of Thiocyanate Among Smokers And Nonsmokers Using Urine As A Biological Indicator And Other Contributing Factors Of Cyanide Exposure" Afribary. Afribary, 28 May. 2021, https://afribary.com/works/determination-of-thiocyanate-among-smokers-and-nonsmokers-using-urine-as-a-biological-indicator-and-other-contributing-factors-of-cyanide-exposure. Accessed 28 Apr. 2024.
Kemunto, Nyachoti . "Determination Of Thiocyanate Among Smokers And Nonsmokers Using Urine As A Biological Indicator And Other Contributing Factors Of Cyanide Exposure". Afribary, Afribary, 28 May. 2021. Web. 28 Apr. 2024. < https://afribary.com/works/determination-of-thiocyanate-among-smokers-and-nonsmokers-using-urine-as-a-biological-indicator-and-other-contributing-factors-of-cyanide-exposure >.
Kemunto, Nyachoti . "Determination Of Thiocyanate Among Smokers And Nonsmokers Using Urine As A Biological Indicator And Other Contributing Factors Of Cyanide Exposure" Afribary (2021). Accessed April 28, 2024. https://afribary.com/works/determination-of-thiocyanate-among-smokers-and-nonsmokers-using-urine-as-a-biological-indicator-and-other-contributing-factors-of-cyanide-exposure