March 2007 Press Release
RACE AFFECTS TOBACCO ABSORBTION IN CHILDREN
Tobacco Toxicants Significantly Higher in African Americans
(NORTHBROOK, IL, March 12, 2007) — New research suggests that a child's race may be a factor
in determining his/her susceptibility to tobacco toxins associated with environmental tobacco smoke
(ETS). The study, published in the March issue of CHEST, the peer-reviewed journal of the American
College of Chest Physicians (ACCP), reveals that African American children with asthma, who are
exposed to ETS, have significantly higher toxin levels when compared to their Caucasian counterparts.
"African American children suffer from higher rates of tobacco-related disorders, such as
asthma, sudden-infant death syndrome, and low birth weight, and we need to know why," said lead
author Stephen Wilson MD, University of Cincinnati. "So our goal is to understand how certain
populations—particularly those groups who are most susceptible—respond to ETS exposure."
Dr. Wilson and colleagues from the Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center examined
220 tobacco-exposed children with asthma, who had previously participated in the Cincinnati Asthma
Prevention study. Researchers studied a bi-racial, community-based sample (55% African American) of
children ranging in ages 5 to 12. All of the children had physician-diagnosed asthma, symptoms
consistent with persistent asthma, and were exposed to at least five cigarettes per day in or around the
home.
Researchers tested for levels of cotinine, a nicotine metabolite, by collecting serum and hair
samples at baseline, 6 months, and 1 year. Serum samples accounted for short-term tobacco exposure
and hair samples accounted for long-term tobacco exposure.
"Cotinine is a product of nicotine metabolism. When people inhale or ingest nicotine, the body
uses proteins to convert it into cotinine," said Dr. Wilson, "and, currently, measuring cotinine in various
biologic specimens is a widely used method for assessing nonsmokers' exposure to ETS."
Researchers also avoided reporting parental bias by actively measuring levels of tobacco smoke
in the home. Each study participant had a nicotine dosimeter placed in his or her home at baseline and at
the 6-month visit. These dosimeters were removed at the 6-month and 1-year visits, and were used to
objectively measure each child's level of ETS exposure.
No racial differences were reported in levels of ETS exposure outside of the home or in air
nicotine levels at the 6-month or 1-year study visits. But, results indicated that while African-American
children spent less time exposed to ETS, they showed significantly higher levels of cotinine compared to
Caucasian children. On average, serum cotinine levels in the African-American participants were 32
percent higher than in the Caucasian participants, and hair cotinine levels were 4 times that of the
Caucasian participants.
"Previous studies of adult smokers, as well as cross-sectional studies of nonsmokers have
demonstrated similar racial differences in serum cotinine, however, we were surprised at the magnitude
of the racial differences in the hair continine," said Dr. Wilson. "African-American children may
"handle" environmental tobacco smoke differently than white children, so these results raise questions
as to whether there are racial differences in other tobacco toxicants, as well."
"Exposure to tobacco smoke is dangerous for everyone, regardless of age or race," said Mark J.
Rosen, MD, FCCP, President of the American College of Chest Physicians. "These findings underline
the importance of eliminating environmental tobacco smoke in every setting, especially those where
children are present."
CHEST is a peer-reviewed journal published by the ACCP. It is available online each month at
www.chestjournal.org. The journal's website also provides public access to thousands of archived
studies, dating back to 1946—a newly added feature that is free of charge. The ACCP represents 16,600
members who provide clinical respiratory care, sleep medicine, critical care, and cardiothoracic patient
care in the United States and throughout the world. The ACCP's mission is to promote the prevention
and treatment of diseases of the chest through leadership, education, research, and communication. For
more information about the ACCP, please visit the ACCP Web site at www.chestnet.org.
Contact:
Jennifer Stawarz, (847) 498-8306
Deana Busche, (847) 498-8387
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