Urinary cotinine levels of smokeless tobacco (MaraE powder) users1

Abstract

Smokeless tobacco is used in various forms in some countries ofthe world. “Mara, otu” is a kind of smokeless tobacco usage in the Southeastern region of Turkey. The use of smokeless tobacco causes nicotine addiction and depen-dence. Moreover this type of smokeless tobacco usage is one of the risk factors for oral cancers and genotoxic da ages for users. Cotinine is widely used as a biomarker of tobacco consumption and intake of nicotine. Therefore, urine samples were collected from people who are using Mara, powder and smoking cigarettes, and passive smokers, and the levels ofcotinine investigated. The purpose ofthis study is to determine the cotinine levels of Mara, powder users and to compare the results with cigarette smokers and passive smokers. Urinary cotinine levels of subjects were determined by using capillary gas chromatography with FID detection. The mean (SD) urinary cotinines have been determined as 6467.35±3198 [μg/g creatinine for 26 Mara, powderusers, 1943.92±1443,ug/gcreatininefor26 cigarette smokers and 198.62±420.82 μg/g creatinine for 26 passive smokers. A significant difference has been found between cotinine levels of Mara powder users and cigarette smokers, which is three times higher in Mara, powder users (p <0.001). The present study suggests that smokeless tobacco poses a threat to public health and it should not be viewed as a safe alternative to cigarettes.