Tobacco Smoke Exposure and Levels of Urinary Metals in the U.S. Youth and Adult Population: The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 1999–2004

• DOI: 10.3390/ijerph6071930
• Publication Date: 2009-07-03T07:00:00Z
• Authors: Patricia A. Richter; Ellen E. Bishop; Jiantong Wang; Monica H. Swahn
• Keywords: Adult; Male; Youth; Race; Adolescent; 610; 01 natural sciences; Article; Secondhand Smoke (SHS); secondhand smoke (SHS); metals; youth; lead; cadmium; race/ethnicity; tobacco smoke; smoker; toxicity; Young Adult; Metals, Heavy; Ethnicity; Humans; Tobacco Smoke; Child; Aged; 0105 earth and related environmental sciences; Smoker; Toxicity; Racial Groups; Smoking; Age Factors; Middle Aged; Nutrition Surveys; United States; 3. Good health; Lead; Socioeconomic Factors; Metals; Case-Control Studies; Female; Tobacco Smoke Pollution; Public Health; Cadmium

We assessed 12 urine metals in tobacco smoke-exposed and not exposed National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey participants. Our analysis included age, race/ethnicity, and poverty status. Gender and racial/ethnic differences in cadmium and lead and creatinine-adjusted and unadjusted data for group comparisons are presented. Smokers’ had higher cadmium, lead, antimony, and barium levels than nonsmokers. Highest lead levels were in the youngest subjects. Lead levels among adults with high second-hand smoke exposure equaled smokers. Older smokers had cadmium levels signaling the potential for cadmium-related toxicity. Given the potential toxicity of metals, our findings complement existing research on exposure to chemicals in tobacco smoke.