The role of air nicotine in explaining racial differences in cotinine among tobacco-exposed 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.


METHODS
Community-based sample of asthmatic children (n = 220) enrolled in an environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) reduction trial.


METHODS
A biracial sample (55% African American) of children with asthma aged 5 to 12 years who were routinely exposed to ETS.


METHODS
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.
Wilson
Stephen E
SE
Department of Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH. Electronic address: Stephen.wilson@uc.edu.
Kahn
Robert S
RS
Cincinnati Children's Environmental Health Center, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH.
Khoury
Jane
J
Cincinnati Children's Environmental Health Center, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH.
Lanphear
Bruce P
BP
Cincinnati Children's Environmental Health Center, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH.
D001249:Asthma / Q000097:blood* / Q000208:ethnology / Q000517:prevention & control; D044383:Black People; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003367:Cotinine / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006197:Hair / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009538:Nicotine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis*; D009820:Ohio; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis*; D044465:White People; D001741:Black or African American
D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution; D009538:Nicotine; D003367:Cotinine