Elimination of cotinine from body fluids: disposition in smokers and nonsmokers.

Abstract

We have evaluated differences in the elimination of cotinine, a major nicotine metabolite, in smokers who quit smoking and never-smokers who were exposed to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) under controlled conditions. The mean biological half-life of cotinine in urine, collected from the nine smokers was 16.5 ± 1.2 h, in never-smokers exposed to ETS, 27.3 ± 1.9 h. Differences in the mode of uptake and absorption of nicotine and possible differences in nicotine metabolism may play roles in the clearance rate differences between smokers and nonsmokers. (Am J Public Health 1989; 79:1046-1048.) IntroductionThe elimination of nicotine, by smokers, users of other tobacco products, and by nonsmokers exposed to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS), is a variable metabolic process.'3 In a previous study, we observed that cotinine elimination in nonsmokers exposed to ETS tended to take longer than that seen in active smokers who quit smoking.4 The slower clearance in nonsmokers of a terminal nicotine metabolite suggested that other tobacco smoke constituents or their metabolites might also remain in the bodies of nonsmokers for longer time periods.Differences in the induction of hepatic and possibly pulmonary enzymes can play a role in the diverse metabolic

Passive smoking and the use of noncigarette tobacco products in association with risk for pancreatic cancer: A case‐control study

“…32,33 However, using a questionnaire to assess passive smoking exposure has an advantage over biomarker measurements, because the later could not reflect the long-term exposure caused by the short biologic half-life of the markers. 34 Another limitation of our study is the potential selection bias related to the use of hospital visitors as a control group. Because individuals in the control group were the companions of cancer patients, there is a possibility that the prevalence of passive smoking among controls was overestimated.…”

Secondhand smoke exposure in early life and the risk of breast cancer among never smokers (United States)

“…Questionnairebased exposure assessments of SHS have been criticized because they may not precisely measure SHS exposure [43,44] and biomarkers of exposure have been offered as potentially superior alternatives to questionnaire-based exposure assessment of SHS. Cotinine, the major metabolite of nicotine, has been used as a biomarker of tobacco exposure; although its biologic half-life is 16.5 h and may be a valid only for recent exposure to tobacco smoke [45]. While biomarkers of SHS exposure have the potential to greatly increase the accuracy of exposure assessments, they are currently limited to only recent exposure and are not yet able to estimate long-term exposure.…”

Decreasing urinary PAH metabolites and 7-methylguanine after smoking cessation

“…Among urinary constituents related to smoking, cotinine, a major metabolite of nicotine, appears to have been studied. Urinary cotinine is reported to have a half-life of 16.5 h after cessation of smoking (Haley et al 1989). Regarding other carcinogenic metabolites, Hecht et al (1999) reported the persistence of 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanol and its glucuronides in people who had quit smoking.…”