Stephen E Wilson1, Robert S Kahn2, Jane Khoury2, Bruce P Lanphear2. 1. Department of Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH. Electronic address: Stephen.wilson@uc.edu. 2. Cincinnati Children's Environmental Health Center, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: African-American children have higher rates of tobacco-associated morbidity. Few studies have objectively measured racial differences in the exposure of children to tobacco smoke. The objective of this study was to test whether African-American children have higher levels of cotinine compared to white children while accounting for ambient measures of tobacco smoke. SETTING: Community-based sample of asthmatic children (n = 220) enrolled in an environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) reduction trial. PARTICIPANTS: A biracial sample (55% African American) of children with asthma aged 5 to 12 years who were routinely exposed to ETS. MEASUREMENTS: We measured cotinine levels in serum and hair samples at baseline, 6 months, and 12 months. We measured the level of ETS exposure over a 6-month period by placing air nicotine dosimeters in the homes of the children at baseline and at 6-month study visits. RESULTS: African-American children had significantly higher levels of cotinine at all time points in the study. At the 12-month visit, African-American children had higher levels of serum cotinine (1.39 mug/dL vs 0.80 mug/dL, p = 0.001) and hair cotinine (0.28 ng/mg vs 0.08 ng/mg, p < 0.0001) when compared with white children. In a repeated-measures analysis, African-American children had significantly higher levels of serum cotinine (beta = 0.28, p = 0.04) and hair cotinine (beta = 1.40, p < 0.0001) compared with white children. Air nicotine levels and housing volume were independently associated with higher levels of cotinine. CONCLUSIONS: Among children with asthma, African-American children have higher levels of serum and hair cotinine compared with white children.
OBJECTIVE: African-American children have higher rates of tobacco-associated morbidity. Few studies have objectively measured racial differences in the exposure of children to tobacco smoke. The objective of this study was to test whether African-American children have higher levels of cotinine compared to white children while accounting for ambient measures of tobacco smoke. SETTING: Community-based sample of asthmatic children (n = 220) enrolled in an environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) reduction trial. PARTICIPANTS: A biracial sample (55% African American) of children with asthma aged 5 to 12 years who were routinely exposed to ETS. MEASUREMENTS: We measured cotinine levels in serum and hair samples at baseline, 6 months, and 12 months. We measured the level of ETS exposure over a 6-month period by placing air nicotine dosimeters in the homes of the children at baseline and at 6-month study visits. RESULTS: African-American children had significantly higher levels of cotinine at all time points in the study. At the 12-month visit, African-American children had higher levels of serum cotinine (1.39 mug/dL vs 0.80 mug/dL, p = 0.001) and hair cotinine (0.28 ng/mg vs 0.08 ng/mg, p < 0.0001) when compared with white children. In a repeated-measures analysis, African-American children had significantly higher levels of serum cotinine (beta = 0.28, p = 0.04) and hair cotinine (beta = 1.40, p < 0.0001) compared with white children. Air nicotine levels and housing volume were independently associated with higher levels of cotinine. CONCLUSIONS: Among children with asthma, African-American children have higher levels of serum and hair cotinine compared with white children.
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