Ralph S. Caraballo, PhD, Office on Smoking and Health; National Center for Chronic Disease and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Hwy. N.E., mailstop K-50, Atlanta, GA 30341, 770-488-5732, rfc8@cdc.gov and Chung-won Lee, PhD, Office on Smoking and Health, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Highway NE, MS K-50, Atlanta, GA 30341-3724.

Exposure to secondhand smoke causes many diseases among children and adults, including sudden infant deaths, asthma, exacerbation of asthma attacks, heart disease, and lung cancer.

The purpose of this study is to identify differences in secondhand smoke exposure among three racial/ethnic groups in the U.S.

Using data from the 1999 and 2000 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, we compared the geometric mean of serum cotinine concentrations, a marker of exposure to nicotine, of 1,949 white nonsmokers, 1,333 black nonsmokers, and 2,242 Mexican American nonsmokers. By the time of the presentation, we will have compared the 1999-2000 results to similar data collected from NHANES in 1988-1991, and 1991-1994 for the same racial/ethnic and age (3-4, 5-11, 12-19, and 20+) groups.

Overall, blacks had higher exposure to secondhand smoke (geometric mean=0.13 ng/mL; 95% CI=0.11-0.15) than Mexican Americans (LOD= non-detectable levels <0.05 ng/mL), and whites (0.05 ng/mL; 95% CI=LOD-0.07).

Geometric mean levels of exposure ranged from 0.10 (20+ years) to 0.32 ng/mL (5-11 years) among blacks, from LOD (20+ years) to 0.13 ng/mL (3 to 4 years) among whites, and from LOD (5 or more years) to 0.06 ng/mL (3-4 years) among Mexican Americans.

Blacks had 4 to 6 times higher levels of exposure (0.10-0.32 ng/mL) as determined by geometric means within age categories compared to Mexican Americans (LOD-0.06 ng/mL).

These findings suggest a need to expand efforts to encourage the adoption of smoke-free home rules and of voluntary and legislated policies making public places and work places smoke-free.

Learning Objectives:

• At the conclusion of the session, participants will be able to describe which racial/ethnic groups in the U.S. (by age) are highly exposed to secondhand smoke exposure.

Keywords: Environmental Exposures, Adolescents

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.

Handout (.pdf format, 1125.2 kb)