88 PASSIVE SMOKING AND URINE COTININE LEVELS IN GREEK CHILDREN

Abstract

The high prevalence of cigarette smoking in Greece made worth an attempt to documenting passive smoking among children. A precoded questionnaire was completed by three paediatricians for 565 randomly selected attenders in a 24-hours walk-in outpatient clinic.In all 565 children urine cotinine levels were measured by radioimmunoassay and standardised by the cotinine / creatinine ratio. It was found that: 1. Most Greek children (80%) are passive smokers as it was confirmed by the elevated urine cotinine/creatinine ratio (53.4 ±74.3 ng/mg). 2. In 44% of the households mother was the source of indoor popution by cigarette smoke, alone (11%) or along with father (33%). 3. From variant and regression analysis a statistically significant association was identified between urine cotinine levels in children and the following main factors by descending, order of p values: number of smokers at home (positive), child's age (negative), number of cigarettes/ day (positive), surface of household (negative), maternal education (negative).In conclusion antismoking compaing has to be reinforced in Greece and paediatricians are urged to actively participate.