Assessment of Environmental Tobacco Smoke Exposure in U.S. Navy Submariners
Abstract
The effectiveness of the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps Tobacco Policy in protecting submariners from Environmental Tobacco Smoke (ETS) was evaluated. Exposure to ETS was measured using urinary cotinine as a biomarker. Subjects were recruited from 9 U.S. Navy submarines. Non-tobacco users were identified and provided two urine samples (1. pre-deployment, in harbor; 2. deployed, at sea) to quantify exposure to ETS and the magnitude of any change. Samples were analyzed using liquid chromatography - tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Overall, deployed cotinine levels were 2.1 times as much as in port levels in non-tobacco using submariners (95% CI: 1.8 to to 2.4, p <0.001). This study provides evidence that non-tobacco using submariners were being exposed to ETS. Exposure was seen in all submarine classes and was not limited to personnel working in proximity to the smoking area.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 19, 2010
- Accession Number
- AD1147845
Entities
People
- Linda M. Hughes
- N. J. Yarnall
- P. S. Turnbull
Organizations
- Naval Submarine Medical Research Laboratory