Browse by author
Lookup NU author(s): Professor Caroline Relton
Full text for this publication is not currently held within this repository. Alternative links are provided below where available.
Background: Several countries are discussing new legislation regarding the ban on smoking in public places, based on the growing evidence of the hazards of secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure. The objective of the present study is to quantitatively assess the relationship between smoking, SHS, and serum cotinine levels in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) cohort. Methods: From a study on lung cancer in the EPIC cohort, questionnaire information on smoking was collected at enrolment, and cotinine was measured in serum. Three statistical models were applied by using samples available in a cross-section design: (i) cotinine levels by categories combining smoking and SHS (n = 859); (ii) the effect of hours of passive smoking exposure in nonsmokers only (n = 107); (iii) the effect of the number of cigarettes consumed per day in current smokers only (n = 832). All models were adjusted for country, sex, age, and body mass index. Results: Among nonsmokers, passive smokers presented significant differences in cotinine compared with nonexposed, with a marked (but not significant) difference among former-smokers. A one hour per day increment of SHS gave rise to a significant 2.58 nmol/L (0.45 ng/mL) increase in mean serum cotinine (P < 0.001). In current smokers, a one cigarette per day increment gave rise to a significant 22.44 nmol/L (3.95 ng/mL) increase in cotinine mean (P < 0.001). Conclusions: There is clear evidence that not only tobacco smoking but also involuntary exposure increases cotinine levels. Impact: This study strengthens the evidence for the benefits of a smoking ban in public places. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 20(5); 869-75. (C)2011 AACR.
Author(s): Baltar VT, Xun WW, Chuang SC, Relton C, Ueland PM, Vollset SE, Midttun O, Johansson M, Slimani N, Jenab M, Clavel-Chapelon F, Boutron-Ruault MC, Fagherazzi G, Kaaks R, Rohrmann S, Boeing H, Weikert C, Bueno-De-Mesquita HB, Boshuizen HC, van Gils CH, Peeters PHM, Agudo A, Barricarte A, Navarro C, Rodriguez L, Castano JMH, Larranaga N, Perez MJS, Khaw KT, Wareham N, Allen NE, Crowe F, Gallo V, Norat T, Tagliabue G, Masala G, Panico S, Sacerdote C, Tumino R, Trichopoulou A, Lagiou P, Bamia C, Rasmuson T, Hallmans G, Roswall N, Tjonneland A, Riboli E, Brennan P, Vineis P
Publication type: Article
Publication status: Published
Journal: Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention
Year: 2011
Volume: 20
Issue: 5
Pages: 869-875
Print publication date: 25/02/2011
Acceptance date: 04/02/2011
ISSN (print): 1055-9965
ISSN (electronic): 1538-7755
Publisher: American Association for Cancer Research
URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1158/1055-9965.EPI-10-1235
DOI: 10.1158/1055-9965.EPI-10-1235
Altmetrics provided by Altmetric
