Association of time-location patterns with urinary cotinine among asthmatic children under household environmental tobacco smoke exposure.

Abstract

INTRODUCTION:

Environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) is a hazardous component of indoor air, and may increase the risk of respiratory diseases, atherosclerosis and otitis media in children. In this study, we explored the relationship between time inside the house, ETS exposure and urinary cotinine level, and also determined the association of time inside the house on asthma phenotypes when children exposed to ETS.

METHODS:

A total of 222 asthmatic children and 205 non-asthmatic controls were recruited in the Genetic and Biomarker study for Childhood Asthma (GBCA). Structured questionnaires and time-location pattern questionnaires were administered by face-to-face interview. Urinary cotinine was measured by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS). The level of household ETS exposure was assessed using the cotinine/creatinine ratio (CCR).

RESULTS:

In general, urinary cotinine and CCR were higher in subjects exposed to household ETS than those who never had ETS at home. A significant positive relationship was found between average time inside the house and urinary CCR in asthmatic children with current ETS at home (β=0.278, p=0.02). After adjustment for age and gender, average time inside the house was positively related to severe wheeze in asthmatic children with household ETS within 1 month (OR: 1.26, 95%: 1.02-1.64).

CONCLUSIONS:

Our study suggests that the major source of ETS exposure for children is due to longer period of exposures among children living with adult smokers at home. Home-smoking restrictions that effectively prevent children from being exposed to ETS would be worthwhile.

• Authors: Kuan-Yen Tung, Kuen-Yuh Wu, Ching-Hui Tsai, Ming-Wei Su, Chien-Han Chen, Ming-Hung Lin, Yang-Ching Chen, Wen-Chia Wu, Yungling Leo Lee
• Journal: Environmental research (Environ Res) Vol. 124 Pg. 7-12 (Jul 2013) ISSN: 1096-0953 [Electronic] Netherlands
• PMID: 23623351 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Tobacco Smoke Pollution
• Cotinine

Topics

• Adolescent
• Air Pollution, Indoor (adverse effects, analysis)
• Asthma (etiology, urine)
• Child
• Cotinine (urine)
• Cross-Sectional Studies
• Environmental Exposure (adverse effects, analysis)
• Female
• Humans
• Male
• Regression Analysis
• Surveys and Questionnaires
• Tobacco Smoke Pollution (adverse effects, analysis)