Urinary cotinine and exposure to parental smoking in a population of children with asthma.
BACKGROUND
Studies of the effects of tobacco smoke often rely on reported exposure to cigarette smoke, a measure that is subject to bias. We describe here the relationship between parental smoking exposure as assessed by urinary cotinine excretion and lung function in children with asthma.


METHODS
We studied 90 children 4-14 years of age, who reported a confirmed diagnosis or symptoms of asthma. In each child, we assessed baseline pulmonary function (spirometry) and bronchial responsiveness to carbachol stimulation. Urinary cotinine was measured by HPLC with ultraviolet detection.


RESULTS
Urinary cotinine concentrations in the children were significantly correlated (P <0.001) with the number of cigarettes the parents, especially the mothers, smoked. Bronchial responsiveness to carbachol (but not spirometry test results) was correlated (P <0.03) with urinary cotinine in the children.


CONCLUSIONS
Passive smoke exposure increases the bronchial responsiveness to carbachol in asthmatic children.
Oddoze
C
C
Analytical Chemistry Laboratory, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Aix-Marseille II, Bd J Moulin, 13005 Marseille Cedex 5, France.
Dubus
J C
JC
Badier
M
M
Thirion
X
X
Pauli
A M
AM
Pastor
J
J
Bruguerolle
B
B
D000293:Adolescent; D001249:Asthma / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000652:urine*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003367:Cotinine / Q000652:urine*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010290:Parents; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D012907:Smoking; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects*
D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution; D003367:Cotinine