# BIOCHEMICAL VALIDATION OF SMOKE ABSORPTION BY INFANTS

> **NIH NIH R01** · INSTITUTE FOR CANCER PREVENTION · 1987 · $130,725

## Abstract

Environmental smoke exposure (involuntary smoke exposure) has been
incriminated as a contributor to the increased lung cancer incidence in the
U.S.A. and other developed countries.  Epidemiological studies have also
indicated associations for involuntary smoke exposure and childhood brain
tumors.  Furthermore, it appears that maternal smoking accelerates lung
cancer risk in offspring who become cigarette smokers.

It is planned to systematically measure the uptake of environmental smoke
by infants who are formula-fed rather than breast-fed and whose mothers or
primary care takers are cigarette smokers.  The following groups of infants
(equal percentage of boys and girls) will be assayed.

1. Age 1 month , summer collection, smoking mothers         50 cases

2.     "       ,         "        , nonsmoking family       56 controls

3.     "       , winter collection, smoking mothers         50 cases

4.     "       ,         "        , nonsmoking family       56 controls

5. Age 3 months, summer collection, smoking mothers         50 cases

6.     "       ,         "        , nonsmoking family       56 controls

7.     "       , winter collection, smoking mothers         50 cases

8.     "       ,         "        , nonsmoking family       56 controls

The saliva of all primary caretakers will be analyzed for cotinine to
validate their smoking habits.  Vital and environmental data will be
obtained on each household.  Urine from each infant will be analyzed for
pH, nitrate, thiocyanate, nicotine-N'-oxide, nicotine, cotinine,
N-nitrosoproline and creatinine.  The uptake of smoke particulates will be
calculated on the basis of nicotine and cotinine data, absorption of gas
phase constituents by thiocyanate.  Elevated urinary excretion of
N-nitrosoproline would reflect the endogenous nitrosation potential of
inhaled environmental pollutants.

It is the overall goal of this study to document the correlation between
smoking intensity of mothers and the uptake of environmental smoke
pollutants by their infants and to document ensuing biochemical changes.
Infants who are involuntarily exposed to tobacco smoke and who have similar
diets are regarded to be the most promising group for documenting the
uptake and effects of environmental smoke exposure.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3179536
- **Project number:** 5R01CA040070-03
- **Recipient organization:** INSTITUTE FOR CANCER PREVENTION
- **Principal Investigator:** DIETRICH K HOFFMAN
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1987
- **Award amount:** $130,725
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1985-09-30 → 1988-12-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3179536

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3179536, BIOCHEMICAL VALIDATION OF SMOKE ABSORPTION BY INFANTS (5R01CA040070-03). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3179536. Licensed CC0.

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