BACKGROUND In the United States, Blacks who smoke cigarettes have a higher mean blood concentration of the nicotine metabolite cotinine than White smokers. It has not been determined whether there are racial differences in the exposure to the cigarette smoke carcinogen 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK) and in the detoxification of NNK metabolites. METHODS A community-based ...

1. The aim of the study was to determine the carbachol and albuterol responsiveness in treated and untreated asthmatic and allergic children exposed to environmental tobacco smoke assessed by urinary cotinine measurements. 2. Forty-six asthmatic and allergic children with normal spirometric values were recruited. The doubling dose, concentration of carbachol producing a 2-fold increase in speci...

BACKGROUND Few studies have evaluated the association between secondhand smoke (SHS) and subclinical cardiovascular disease among ethnically diverse populations. This study assesses the impact of SHS on inflammation and atherosclerosis (carotid intima-media thickness, coronary artery calcification, and peripheral arterial disease). METHODS AND RESULTS We examined 5032 nonsmoking adults aged 4...

OBJECTIVE To assess the impact of different smoking behaviors of caregivers on environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) exposure in children aged 5-6 years in Changsha, China. METHODS We conducted a cross-sectional, random digit-dial telephone survey of caregivers (n = 543) between August and October 2013. Caregivers' smoking behaviors were collected by a questionnaire. Exposure assessment was based...

ownloade kground: The tobacco-specific nitrosamine 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK) and uction product in the body, 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanol (NNAL), are potent pulmoarcinogens. We have measured total NNAL in the U.S. population of tobacco users and nonsmokers d to secondhand smoke. thods: We measured total urinary NNAL (free NNAL plus its glucuronides fo...

The relationship between asthma and passive smoking has been well established. However, it is still not clear whether an acute asthma attack can be induced by acute smoke exposure. The specific aims of this study were: 1- To assess the degree of smoke exposure through urinary cotinine levels in asthmatic children during and 4 weeks after asthma attacks and, 2- To evaluate the reliability of par...

BACKGROUND The tobacco-specific nitrosamine 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK) and its reduction product in the body, 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanol (NNAL), are potent pulmonary carcinogens. We have measured total NNAL in the U.S. population of tobacco users and nonsmokers exposed to secondhand smoke. METHODS We measured total urinary NNAL (free NNAL plus its ...

Recently, several potential harm reduction strategies, such as reduction in the number of cigarettes smoked and the use of modified cigarette products, have been discussed as possible means by which to reduce tobacco-related disease. To assess any potential reduction in harm by either of these approaches requires an accurate assessment of tobacco toxin exposure. We have recently completed a cig...

BACKGROUND Lung cancer is a major cause of Korean female mortality and is clearly associated with smoking. The Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES IV-2,3), which included both self-reports of smoking and urinary cotinine data, revealed a significant discrepancy between the prevalence of self-reported and biochemically-verified female smokers. The factors associated ...