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DOI: DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.21088/ijde.0974.6099.16123.1

Abstract

Introduction: Cotinine, a major nicotine metabolite is a specific biomarker for nicotine
exposure. Salivary cotinine levels is an easy and effective alternative for screening large groups
especially children and adolescents. The present study was aimed at evaluating prevalence of
tobacco consumption habits, determine the age of initiation and correlate the findings with
their salivary cotinine levels.
Material and methods: The study was conducted among 95 students from schools in Karad. A
validated questionnaire was administered to collect data regarding the awareness and tobacco
consumption among the study group. Unstimulated saliva sample (1ml) was also collected
on the same appointment and evaluated using Calbiotech salivary cotinine assay (solid phase
competitive ELISA test). Cotinine levels of > 10 ng/ml were considered as positive evidence
of tobacco use.
Results: It was found that prevalence of tobacco use was 10.5% in the study group. However,
an alarming 88% of these adolescents had cotinine levels between 7-10ng/ml which suggest
that this group may have been exposed to passive smoking.
Conclusion: A significant proportion of the study group are active tobacco users however an
alarming percentage have a significantly high level of possibly passively inhaled environmental
tobacco smoke exposure.

Keywords : Saliva; Cotinine; Tobacco; Adolescents.

Corresponding Author : Uzma Belgaumi, Associate Professor, Department of Oral Pathology and Microbiology, School of Dental Sciences, Krishna Institute of Medical Sciences (Deemed to be University), Karad, Maharashtra 415539, India.