Environmental Tobacco Smoke Exposure and Pulmonary Function among Adults in NHANES III: Impact on the General Population and Adults with Current Asthma

• Published in: Environmental health perspectives 2002-08, Vol.110 (8), p.765-770
• Main Author: Eisner, Mark D.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Age; Asthma; Asthma - physiopathology; Biomarkers - analysis; Cigarette smoking; Cotinine - blood; Environmental Exposure; Female; Health surveys; Humans; Lung Diseases - etiology; Lungs; Male; Middle Aged; Population estimates; Pulmonary functions; Regression Analysis; Respiratory Function Tests; Secondhand smoke; Sex Factors; Smoking - adverse effects; Tobacco Smoke Pollution - adverse effects; Tobacco smoking; Vital capacity
• ISSN: 0091-6765; 1552-9924
• DOI: 10.1289/ehp.02110765

The impact of environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) exposure on adult pulmonary function has not been clearly determined. Because adults with asthma have chronic airway inflammation, they may be a particularly susceptible group. Using data from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III), I examined the cross-sectional relationship between serum cotinine, a biomarker of ETS exposure, and pulmonary function among 10,581 adult nonsmokers and 440 nonsmoking adults with asthma whose cotinine and spirometry data were available. I generated residuals, which are observed minus predicted values (based on Crapo equations), for forced expiratory volume in 1 sec ( FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC), and FEV1/ FVC ratio to adjust for age, sex, and height. In addition, I used multivariate linear regression to control for sociodemographic characteristics and previous smoking history. Most adults with and without asthma had detectable serum cotinine levels, indicating recent ETS exposure (85.7% and 83.4%, respectively). Among nonsmoking male participants, I found no evidence that ETS exposure was related to decreased pulmonary function. In the nonsmoking female stratum, the highest cotinine tertile was associated with a lower FEV1[-100 mL; 95% confidence interval (CI), -143 to -56 mL], FVC (-119 mL; 95% CI, -168 to -69 mL), and FEV1/ FVC ratio (-1.77%; 95% CI, -2.18% to -1.36%). Among women with asthma, the highest cotinine tertile was also associated with decreased FEV1(-261 mL; 95% CI, -492 to -30 mL), FVC (-291 mL; 95% CI, -601 to 20 mL), and FEV1/ FVC ratio (-1.6%; 95% CI, -3.3% to 0.19%). In conclusion, ETS exposure is associated with decreased pulmonary function in adult females, especially those with asthma. This analysis should provide further impetus for public policies that promote smoke-free environments.