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Exposure to Second-Hand Smoke may Cause Death in Non-Smokers

by Bidita Debnath on Sep 27 2016 11:13 PM

 Exposure to Second-Hand Smoke may Cause Death in Non-Smokers
A new biomarker is being identified by US researchers which revealed that known and unknown exposure to second-hand smoke may lead to an increased risk of mortality in non-smokers.
Serum cotinine -- a metabolite of nicotine -- when used as a biological marker of exposure to second-hand smoke was found to have associations to overall and cause-specific mortality in non-smokers.

Increased levels of serum cotinine in blood were significantly also associated with all types of cancers, and heart disease, the researchers said.

"The study found that non-smokers are exposed to second-hand smoke without even realising it," said Raja Flores, Professor at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York, US.

Non-smoking individuals' cotinine blood levels accurately determined their exposure and subsequent risk of lung cancer and other smoking-related disease, Flores said.

"Using cotinine level to measure exposure to second-hand smoke has important public health implications, because increasing the scope of smoke-free environments would likely decrease cotinine levels in the general population and ultimately death," added Emanuela Taioli, Director at Mount Sinai.

Further, exposure to second-hand smoke is unequally distributed in the population, the researchers said, adding that children, people living in poverty, and those who rent their housing are disproportionately affected and most vulnerable.

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The study, published in the journal Carcinogenesis, provides a more accurate way to gauge second-hand smoke exposure. It also presents a strong case for more stringent limits on smoking and increased preventive screenings for those more likely to have been exposed to second-hand smoke.

For the study, the team examined 20,175 non-smokers. After adjustment for sex, education, race/ethnicity, body mass index, and smoking habits, their analysis showed a significant increase in years of life lost across cotinine concentrations.

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In the adjusted analysis, the lowest quartile of cotinine concentration -- below the detectable level -- was associated with 5.6 years of life lost while the highest quartile was linked to 7.5 years of life lost. A stricter legislation establishing smoke-free areas, together with education efforts in low-income and minority communities, is imperative, the researchers concluded.

Source-IANS


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