The Second Hand Smoke (SHS) Assessment Laboratory has developed specialized capabilities in assessing airborne nicotine and biomarkers of SHS exposure. Laboratory capabilities include assembling passive airborne nicotine samplers and conducting nicotine analysis with gas chromatography and nitrogen phosphorous detection (GC-NPD) as well as measuring nicotine in indoor settled dust samples using GC equipped with mass spectrometer (GC-MS). Current biomarker assessment methods have focused on hair nicotine using GC-MS. Future efforts will include developing salivary cotinine as an additional biomarker. We have successfully analyzed samples from a global SHS exposure assessment targeting non-smoking women, children and workers from contaminated indoor workplace environments (restaurants and bars). We have also conducted a worldwide assessment on airborne nicotine in public places. Future studies will focus on assessing exposure in order to conduct risk assessments and estimate global burden of SHS-related disease. The SHS Assessment Laboratory provides input in study design, sampling strategy, sample collection and analysis as well as data analysis. One of our goals is to help expand SHS assessment capabilities around the world.
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