Urinary cotinine levels of electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) users.
The popularity of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) is rapidly increasing in many countries. These devices are designed to imitate regular cigarettes, delivering nicotine via inhalation without combusting tobacco but currently, there is a lack of scientific evidence on the presence or absence of nicotine exposure. Such research relies on evidence from e-cigarette users urine samples. In this study, we aimed to determine the levels and compare the amount of nicotine to which e-cigarette users, cigarette smokers and passive smokers are exposed. Therefore, urine samples were collected from e-cigarette users, cigarette smokers, passive smokers, and healthy nonsmokers. The urinary cotinine levels of the subjects were determined using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The mean (±SD) urinary cotinine levels were determined as 1755 ± 1848 ng/g creatinine for 32 e-cigarette users, 1720 ± 1335 ng/g creatinine for 33 cigarette smokers and 81.42 ± 97.90 ng/g creatinine for 33 passive smokers. A significant difference has been found between cotinine levels of e-cigarette users and passive smokers (p < 0.05). There were no statistically significant differences between e-cigarette users and cigarette smokers (p > 0.05). This is a seminal study to demonstrate the e-cigarette users are exposed to nicotine as much as cigarette smokers.
a Department of Toxicology , Faculty of Pharmacy, Gazi University, Hipodrom , Ankara , Turkey .
Gülşen
G
Göney
a Department of Toxicology , Faculty of Pharmacy, Gazi University, Hipodrom , Ankara , Turkey .
İsmet
İ
Çok
b Department of Analytical Chemistry , Hipodrom , Ankara , Turkey , and.
Uğur
U
Tamer
a Department of Toxicology , Faculty of Pharmacy, Gazi University, Hipodrom , Ankara , Turkey .
Sema
S
Burgaz
c Minister of Health, Sıhhıye District Polyclinic , Sıhhıye, Ankara , Turkey.
Tijen
T
Şengezer
D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000652:urine; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003367:Cotinine / Q000652:urine*; D003404:Creatinine / Q000652:urine*; D066300:Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009538:Nicotine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000652:urine*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution / Q000032:analysis*
D015415:Biomarkers; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution; D009538:Nicotine; D003404:Creatinine; D003367:Cotinine
Cotinine; GC–MS; Turkey; e-cigarette; urine