Abstract

GOLDARACENA, Carlos A et al. Urinary cotinine values and exposure to environmental snuff in pregnant women who attend prenatal examinations in the city of Gualeguaychú. Acta toxicol. argent. [online]. 2014, vol.22, n.3, pp.105-115. ISSN 1851-3743.

Tobacco is one of the preventable risk factors, which is most important in the chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs). The effects of smoking are not limited to active smokers; it also involves individuals who suffer the effects of environmental tobacco smoke (ETS): passive smokers. Pregnant women who are active smokers or exposed to ETS are a very sensitive population to the toxic effects of snuff, since they also affect the developing fetus. Cotinine is currently the most suitable biomarker for measuring ETS exposure both active and passive. Objective: To determine the level of cotinine in pregnant women who reported being passive smokers, relating the values obtained with the indicated days of exposure. Materials and methods: We worked with 443 pregnant women attending public health centers and a private centre in Gualeguaychú for prenatal care, asking to be exposed to ETS showed a urine sample for cotinine dosage. We performed a non-experimental, retrospective and cross-sectional design. The dosage of cotinine in urine was performed using a chemiluminescent method. Previously we obtained a reference value of urinary cotinine less than 15,2ng/ml for 98% of non smokers unexposed to ETS. Results: The analysis of cotinine levels in passive smoking pregnant women show tHTA in public centers, 82% has a cotinine level greater than 15,2ng/embaml, whereas in the private centre, 42% have the same range values. Considering the days of exposure, the average cotinine log for those who said were exposed for the past seven days, was 52.32 ng/ml in the public sector and 64.17 ng/ml in the private one. Discussion and conclusion: The measurement of cotinine is useful to have reliable data from passive exposure to ETS. In public centers, 82% of pregnant women who said were exposed had urinary cotinine levels consistent with the statement, while in the private centre the 42% who said had the same situation had indicator values denoting exposure to snuff. There was a progressive increase in average biological indicator according to the days of exposure in both sectors, exceeding 50ng/ml when the declared exposure was during the last 7 days, which is indicative of a severe ETS exposure. The interest and concern expressed by the pregnant women who participated in this study indicates HTA the implementation of this kind of diagnosis may contribute to prevention campaigns against snuff consumption and promote the right of nonsmokers to live in healthy environments free of the toxic compounds thereof.

Keywords : Tobacco smoking; Cotinine; Pregnant women; Environmental tobacco smoke.