Abstract
Background and objective: The objective of this study was to assess the exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) by means of the concentration of salivary cotinine in a sample of adolescent students, and its relationship with active and passive tobacco consumption. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in 92 secondary education and high school pupils (16-20 years). Salivary samples were collected and salivary cotinine was measured by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Salivary cotinine medians and interquartile ranges were calculated. Significant statistical differences were detected with the non parametric test for medians. Results: The median of salivary cotinine concentration in current smokers was 91.5ng/ml (RI: 62,4-125); in former smokers 7.9 ng/ml (RI: 5,1-15,5) and in never smokers 1.9 ng/ml (RI: 0-3,6). In smokers of more than 10 cigarettes per day, the result was 98.3 ng/ml (RI:63,4-142,9). Among non-smokers (never-smoker and ex-smokers), the median of salivary cotinine in non-smokers living with smokers was 3.3 ng/ml (RI: 0-8,6) versus 2.9 ng/ml (RI: 1,1-6,9) in those living with non-smokers. Conclusions: The salivary cotinine concentration increases with the intensity of tobacco consumption and the perception of passive exposure to tobacco smoke.
Translated title of the contribution | Exposure to environmental tobacco smoke and salivary cotinine concentration in a sample of students from Barcelona, Spain |
---|---|
Original language | Spanish |
Pages (from-to) | 622-625 |
Number of pages | 4 |
Journal | Medicina clinica |
Volume | 133 |
Issue number | 16 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Oct 31 2009 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Adolescence
- Cotinine
- Passive exposure to tobacco smoke
- Passive smoking
- Smoking
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General Medicine