Use of urinary nicotine concentrations to estimate exposure and mortality from passive smoking in non-smokers.

Abstract

SummaryData on urinary nicotine concentrations in smokers and non‐smokers were used to estimate exposure and risks from passive smoking in non‐smokers. The average concentration in 188 urban non‐smokers was 10.8 ng/ml which was 0.7% of the average of 1471 ng/ml in a sample of 229 cigarette smokers. This suggests that the amount of nicotine that non‐smokers absorb from passive smoking is about 0.7% of the intake of smokers. The proportionate intake of tar and gases such as carbon monoxide is likely, if anything, to be higher. If the risk of death is in direct proportion to dose, passive smoking may account for the premature death of about 1000 non‐smokers a year in Britain and more than 4000 per year in the United States.