A fast chemiluminescent method for H2O2 measurement in exhaled breath condensate

Background: Breath condensate can give useful information on volatile compo unds produced at alveolar level. Actual concentration of H2O2 in breath con densate is dependent on its production at alveolar level and on the efficac y of the detoxifying systems, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, etc. Method s: In the present paper, a simple chemiluminescent method for the determina tion of the H2O2 collected in exhaled breath is shown and data of both smok ers and nonsmokers volunteers are presented. Results: The chemiluminescent response is linear up to 100 mu mol/l H2O2. The analytical sensitivity is a bout 0.01 mu mol/l. Most of the nonsmokers have a H2O2 content lower than 0 .05 mu mol/l, while smokers have a content ranging from 0.1 omega 0.6 mu mo l/l. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science BN. All rights reserved.