Declining trends in serum cotinine levels in US worker groups: the power of policy.
OBJECTIVE
To explore trends in cotinine levels in US worker groups.


METHODS
Using NHANES III data, serum cotinine levels of US workers not smokers nor exposed to secondhand smoke (SHS) at home were evaluated for trends by occupational/industrial and race/ethnicity-gender sub-groups.


RESULTS
Decreases from 1988 to 2002 ranged from 0.08 to 0.30 ng/mL (67% to 85% relative decrease), with largest absolute reductions in: blue-collar and service occupations; construction/manufacturing industrial sectors; non-Hispanic Black male workers.


CONCLUSIONS
All worker groups had declining serum cotinine levels. Most dramatic reductions occurred in sub-groups with the highest before cotinine levels, thus disparities in SHS workforce exposure are diminishing with increased adoption of clean indoor laws. However, Black male workers, construction/manufacturing sector workers, and blue-collar and service workers have the highest cotinine levels. Further reductions in SHS exposure will require widespread adoption of workplace clean air laws without exemptions.
Arheart
Kristopher L
KL
Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33101, USA.
Lee
David J
DJ
Dietz
Noella A
NA
Wilkinson
James D
JD
Clark
John D
JD
LeBlanc
William G
WG
Serdar
Berrin
B
Fleming
Lora E
LE
D003367:Cotinine / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D009790:Occupations; D011640:Public Policy; D012907:Smoking / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D014481:United States; D017132:Workplace / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence
D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution; D003367:Cotinine