Decrease in the urine cotinine concentrations of Korean non-smokers between 2009 and 2011 following implementation of stricter smoking regulations.
This study aimed to determine if there was an association between the implementation of smoking regulation policies and the urine cotinine concentrations of Korean non-smokers. The subjects of this study were 4612 non-smoking Korean citizens (aged 19 or older) selected from the first stage of the Korean National Environmental Health Survey conducted by the National Institute of Environmental Research from 2009 to 2011. Cotinine concentrations in urine were measured by GC-MS (limit of detection: 0.05 ng/mL). Changes in the urine cotinine concentration were analyzed using a weighted general linear model and linear regression and values were shown as geometric mean (GM). The GM urine cotinine concentration decreased over time (2.92 ng/mL in 2009, 1.93 ng/mL in 2010, and 1.25 ng/mL in 2011). The total decrease in the subjects' urine cotinine concentration between 2009 and 2011 was 2.79 ng/mL, representing a relative decrease of 54.7%. The decrease in GM urine cotinine concentration in each subgroup ranged from 2.17 ng/mL to 3.29 ng/mL (relative decreases of 46.4% and 62.8%, respectively), with the largest absolute reductions in subjects in the following groups: females, aged 40-49 years, detached residence type, no alcohol consumption, employed, secondhand smoke exposure. All groups had negative regression coefficients, all of which were significant (p < 0.001). Our results provide indirect indicators of the effectiveness of smoking regulation policies including the revision of the National Health Promotion Act in Korea.
Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, College of Medicine & Institute of Environmental and Occupational Medicine, Inje University, Busan, Republic of Korea.
Ju Hyoung
JH
Park
Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, College of Medicine & Institute of Environmental and Occupational Medicine, Inje University, Busan, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: lck3303@daum.net.
Chae Kwan
CK
Lee
Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, College of Medicine & Institute of Environmental and Occupational Medicine, Inje University, Busan, Republic of Korea.
Kun Hyung
KH
Kim
Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, College of Medicine & Institute of Environmental and Occupational Medicine, Inje University, Busan, Republic of Korea.
Byung Chul
BC
Son
Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, College of Medicine & Institute of Environmental and Occupational Medicine, Inje University, Busan, Republic of Korea.
Jeong Ho
JH
Kim
Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, College of Medicine & Institute of Environmental and Occupational Medicine, Inje University, Busan, Republic of Korea.
Chun Hui
CH
Suh
Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, College of Medicine & Institute of Environmental and Occupational Medicine, Inje University, Busan, Republic of Korea.
Se Yeong
SY
Kim
Environmental Health Research Division, National Institute of Environmental Research, Inchon, Republic of Korea.
Seung Do
SD
Yu
Environmental Health Research Division, National Institute of Environmental Research, Inchon, Republic of Korea.
Sue Jin
SJ
Kim
Environmental Health Research Division, National Institute of Environmental Research, Inchon, Republic of Korea.
Wook Hee
WH
Choi
Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Inje University Haeundae Paik Hospital, Busan, Republic of Korea.
Dae Hwan
DH
Kim
Department of Food Processing and Bakery, Gangwon Provincial College, Gangnung 210-804, Republic of Korea.
Yeong Beom
YB
Park
Department of Environmental Engineering, Sewon University, Cheongju, Republic of Korea.
Seok Hwan
SH
Park
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Medicine, Inje University, Busan 614-735, Republic of Korea.
Soo Woong
SW
Lee
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003367:Cotinine / Q000652:urine*; D005260:Female; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D033161:Government Regulation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D056910:Republic of Korea; D012907:Smoking / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000652:urine; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D000074606:Smoking Prevention; D055815:Young Adult
D003367:Cotinine
Korean; Non-smoker; Secondhand smoke; Smoking regulation policies; Urine cotinine