SALIVARY COTININE - BIOMARKER OF
TOBACCO CONSUMPTION IN THE
ASSESSMENT OF PASSIVE SMOKING
PREVALENCE
CRISTINA NUCA1*, CORNELIU AMARIEI2, VICTORIA BADEA3,
AGRIPINA ZAHARIA4, LAURA BUCUR5, CRISTINA ARENDT6
1Department of Preventive Dentistry, 2Department of Oral Health and
Dental Management, 3Department of Microbiology, 4Department of
Prosthetics, 6Department of Pedodontics, Ovidius University Constanta,
Faculty of Dental Medicine, 7 Ilarie Voronca Street, Constanţa,
România.
5Department of Pharmacognosy, Ovidius University Constanta, Faculty of
Pharmacy, 1 University Street, Constanţa, România.
*corresponding author: medcris@yahoo.com
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Abstract:

Existing evidence suggests there is an association between the salivary cotinine levels and passive smoking. The aim of this study was the objectively evaluation of the passive smoking prevalence in non-smoking adults from Constanta, Romania, based on their salivary cotinine levels measured by NicAlert™ Saliva tests. In a cross-sectional study
made on 286 subjects, the levels of salivary cotinine were measured, together with the evaluation of the self-reported smoking status on a questionnaire basis. After analysis of the salivary cotinine, only 16.4% of all subjects were not exposed to tobacco products. Based on the self-reported smoking status (questionnaire), 44.06% of the subjects (n=126) were classified as active smokers (constant and occasional) and 55.94% (n=160) as non-smokers. Using the salivary cotinine levels as standard, the real distribution of the subjects according to their smoker status comprised 44.06% active smokers (constant and occasional), 16.43% (n=47) non-smokers (non-exposed to tobacco smoke) and 39.50% (n=113) passive smokers.

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