Nicotine Metabolites/Chemicals

• Author: James G. Wigmore
• Pages: 716-731

716

 9

Nicotine Metabolites/Chemicals

The most common nicotine metabolite is cotinine, which can be used to

measure second- and thirdhand smoke exposure. Anabasine is a chemical

that is found in tobacco products such as cigarettes but not in nicotine

replacement therapy (NRT) (e.g., patches, gums). As a result, anabasine

can be used to distinguish smokers who have relapsed from NRT and are

still smoking.

. COTININE

“Our results indicate that the level of urinary cotinine is independently

associated with the degree of nicotine dependence and that cotinine is a

valid biomarker for prediction of high nicotine dependence.”

—Jung et al, “Can Urinary Cotinine Predict Nicotine

Dependence Level in Smokers?” ()

The major metabolite of nicotine, cotinine, is a good biomarker of nico-

tine exposure and can be measured in human blood (serum), saliva, urine,

milk, and cervical mucosa ().

Reference Number: 

, .., .. , .. ,  . . “Elimination

of Cotinine from Body Fluids: Implications for Noninvasive Measure-

ment of Tobacco Smoke Exposure.” American Journal of Public Health,

: –,  ( table,  f‌igure,  references)

Nicotine Metabolites/Chemicals | 717

Reference Number: 

Abstract: Cotinine can be measured in human blood, saliva, urine, milk,

and cervical mucosa. Three non-smokers and two occasional smokers

ingested  mg of nicotine base every day for  days in order to achieve

a high cotinine concentration and low nicotine concentration. Blood,

urine, and saliva samples were collected daily for  weeks and analyzed

for cotinine by gas chromatography (GC). The initial mean cotinine con-

centrations following the period of nicotine ingestion were  ng/mL

in plasma,  ng/mL in saliva, and , ng/mL in urine. The average

ratios of cotinine saliva to plasma were .:.. The half-life of cotinine

average – hours in the dif‌ferent body f‌luids.

We conclude that cotinine samples from blood, saliva, and urine are

equally applicable to the whole range of issues requiring estimates of

nicotine exposure from tobacco smoking. After cessation of smoking

cotinine concentrations in all body f‌luids may be expected to decline

to nonsmoking levels within four days in the majority of cases, with

an upper limit of seven days. Choice of f‌luid for sampling will depend

on practical rather than pharmacokinetic considerations. Marked dif-

ferences in half-life between smokers and nonsmokers seem unlikely

on present evidence, but the precise magnitude of any dif‌ference must

await larger studies.

Reference Number: 

, ., . -, . , . ,  . .

“Biochemical Markers of Smoke Absorption and Self Reported Exposure

to Passive Smoking.” Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, :

–,  ( tables,  f‌igures,  references)

Abstract: The self-reported degree of exposure to secondhand smoke

(SHS) was determined in  non-smoking patients (mean age . years)

in an outpatient clinic. Blood, breath, saliva, and urine samples were also

collected. Plasma, saliva, or urine nicotine and cotinine concentrations

were determined by GC. Blood carboxyhemoglobin (COHb) and expired

breath carbon monoxide (CO) concentrations were also determined.