title: Nicotine exposure can be detected in cerebrospinal fluid of active and passive smokers.
abstract: A simple, rapid and sensitive liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS) method has been utilized for the quantitative determination of nicotine and its major metabolite cotinine (COT) in human cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of active and passive smokers. CSF samples from 18 smokers, 15 non-smokers, 15 children, 15 infants, and 9 neonatal were analyzed for nicotine (NIC) and cotinine content. Cotinine levels in the CSF of smokers ranged from 27.3 to 457.1 ng/ml, whereas nicotine levels were considerably lower (6.0-215.1 ng/ml). Cotinine could be detected in 4 of the 15 CSF samples from non-smokers (3.5-30.4 ng/ml), and a few other passive smokers, including neonates from smoking mothers (15.6-81.1 ng/ml). The concentrations of cotinine in CSF samples suggests that nicotine easily passes into the CSF, which makes it an excellent CSF marker for tobacco-smoke exposure.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40536, USA.
authors.forename: Ahmad H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Malkawi
authors.forename: Abeer M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Al-Ghananeem
authors.forename: Jose
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: de Leon
authors.forename: Peter A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Crooks
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid / Q000378:metabolism; D002648:Child; D002853:Chromatography, Liquid / Q000379:methods; D003367:Cotinine / Q000032:analysis / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D013058:Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods; D018811:Maternal Exposure; D008431:Maternal-Fetal Exchange; D015394:Molecular Structure; D009538:Nicotine / Q000032:analysis / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D011247:Pregnancy; D012015:Reference Standards; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012907:Smoking / Q000134:cerebrospinal fluid* / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution; D009538:Nicotine; D003367:Cotinine