Characterization of urinary cotinine in non-smoking residents in smoke-free homes in the Korean National Environmental Health Survey (KoNEHS).

Jeonghoon Kim,Kiyoung Lee

doi:10.1186/s12889-016-3212-9

Abstract

BackgroundThe objectives of this study were to determine urinary cotinine concentrations in non-smoking residents of smoke-free homes and to establish the relationship of urinary cotinine with housing type and other socio-demographic and secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure factors.MethodsWe used data from the Korean National Environmental Health Survey I (2009–2011). The study included 814 non-smoking adult residents living in apartments, attached, and detached housing. Residents who lived with smokers were excluded. Urinary cotinine concentration was used as a biomarker for SHS exposure. The factors associated with urinary cotinine levels in non-smoking residents were determined using multivariate regression analysis.ResultsUrinary cotinine was detected in 88 % of the 814 non-smoking residents of smoke-free homes. The urinary cotinine concentrations of residents living in attached [1.18 ng/mg creatinine (Cr)] and detached housing (1.23 ng/mg Cr) were significantly higher than those of residents who lived in apartments (0.69 ng/mg Cr). Urinary cotinine concentrations were significantly higher in residents who were men, those with a household income ≤1000 USD/month, those who were former smokers with >1 year and ≤1 year of not smoking, and those who experienced SHS odor every day. In the multivariate regression analysis, housing type, sex, former smoking status, and frequency of experiencing SHS odor were associated with urinary cotinine concentrations (R2 = 0.14).ConclusionsThe majority of non-smoking residents of smoke-free homes had detectable urinary cotinine. Housing type, sex, former smoking status, and frequency of experiencing SHS odor were predictors for urinary cotinine concentrations in the study participants.

Highlights

The objectives of this study were to determine urinary cotinine concentrations in non-smoking residents of smoke-free homes and to establish the relationship of urinary cotinine with housing type and other socio-demographic and secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure factors
Sex, former smoking status, and frequency of experiencing SHS odor were associated with urinary cotinine concentrations (R2 = 0.14; Table 3)
A possible reason for the higher urinary cotinine concentrations in men is that men might be more likely to be exposed to SHS during social activities and in public places than are women [25], the present study investigated residents who spent the majority of their time at home indoors

Summary

Introduction

The objectives of this study were to determine urinary cotinine concentrations in non-smoking residents of smoke-free homes and to establish the relationship of urinary cotinine with housing type and other socio-demographic and secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure factors. Secondhand smoke (SHS) contains more than 7,000 chemicals, including more than 69 known carcinogens [1]. Many studies that related to SHS exposure at home have focused on nonsmoking residents who were living with smokers. In a 2009 survey in the US, 25.8 % (79.2 million) lived in MUH, and 62.7 million MUH residents followed smoke-free home rules [13]. Of those residents, SHS incursions were reported in 44.0– 46.2 % of the residences. Because people tend to spend a large proportion of their time indoors in their homes, SHS exposure in residences can be a significant contributor to their total exposure. This compares with a daily mean of 59 % in Korea [16]

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