Assessment of smoking status based on cotinine levels in nasal lavage fluid.

Authors

Mehmet Hakan Ozdener, Monell Chemical Senses Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USAFollow
Karen K Yee, Monell Chemical Senses Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USAFollow
Ryan McDermott, Monell Chemical Senses Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USAFollow
Beverly J Cowart, Monell Chemical Senses Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA, Dept Otolaryngology, Head-Neck Surgery, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USAFollow
Aldona A Vainius, Monell Chemical Senses Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USAFollow
Pamela Dalton, Monell Chemical Senses Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USAFollow
Nancy E Rawson, Monell Chemical Senses Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA, WellGen, Inc, North Brunswick, New Jersey, USAFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-1-2009

Comments

This article has been peer reviewed and is published in BMC Tobacco Induced Diseases Volume 5, Issue 11, 2009. The published version is available at DOI: 10.1186/1617-9625-5-11. Copyright © BioMed Central Ltd.

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Cotinine is a principal metabolite of nicotine with a substantially longer half-life, and cotinine levels in saliva, urine or serum are widely used to validate self-reported smoking status. The nasal cavity and olfactory system are directly exposed to tobacco smoke in smokers and in non-smokers who live with or work around smokers. However, despite the potential for a direct impact of tobacco smoke on the nasal epithelium and olfactory neurons, no prior studies have assessed cotinine levels in nasal mucus. We sought to determine whether cotinine levels in nasal lavage fluid (NLF) would provide a reasonable estimate of smoke exposure. We assayed cotinine using a competitive immunoassay in NLF from 23 smokers, 10 non-smokers exposed to tobacco smoke (ETS) and 60 non-smokers who did not report smoke exposure. NLF cotinine levels were significantly higher in smokers than in non-smokers, regardless of their exposure to ambient tobacco smoke. Cotinine levels in this small group of exposed non-smokers were not significantly different than those of non-exposed non-smokers. A cutoff of 1 ng/ml provided a sensitivity of 91% and a specificity of 99% for smoking status in this sample. Data were consistent with self-reported smoking status, and a cutoff of 1.0 ng/ml NLF cotinine may be used to classify smoking status. While saliva is the most easily obtained body fluid, NLF can be used to provide an objective and precise indication of smoking status and more directly reflects smoke exposure in the nasal and olfactory mucosa.

Recommended Citation

Ozdener, Mehmet Hakan; Yee, Karen K; McDermott, Ryan; Cowart, Beverly J; Vainius, Aldona A; Dalton, Pamela; and Rawson, Nancy E, "Assessment of smoking status based on cotinine levels in nasal lavage fluid." (2009). Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery Faculty Papers. Paper 7.
https://jdc.jefferson.edu/otofp/7

PubMed ID

19575799