Abstract
Carboxyhaemoglobin concentrations were measured in 3487 subjects comprising 1255 non-smokers, 1933 cigarette smokers, 193 cigar smokers (39 primary, 154 secondary), and 106 pipe smokers (30 primary, 76 secondary). In cigarette smokers the mean carboxyhaemoglobin concentration was 4.78% of the total haemoglobin and 94.7% of smokers had a concentration greater than 1.7%. Primary cigar smokers had a much lower mean carboxyhaemoglobin concentration (0.93%), and only 10.3% had concentrations greater than 1.7%. Primary pipe smokers also had a low mean carboxyhaemoglobin concentration (1.36%) and none had a concentration above 1.7%. Secondary cigar smokers had a high mean concentration (6.80%) and 97.4% had values above 1.7%; the findings in secondary pipe smokers were similar--the mean concentration was 3.39%, 94.7% having values greater than 1.7%. The lower carboxyhaemoglobin concentrations in primary pipe and cigar smokers suggest that in general they do not inhale, and the raised concentrations in cigarette smokers who change to pipes or cigars suggest that they usually continue to inhale and to absorb large amounts of carbon monoxide and other constituents of tobacco smoke.
Full text
PDF
Selected References
These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.
- McCusker K., McNabb E., Bone R. Plasma nicotine levels in pipe smokers. JAMA. 1982 Aug 6;248(5):577–578. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Nicotine, carbon monoxide and heart disease. Lancet. 1982 Jan 2;1(8262):40–41. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Russell M. A., Cole P. V., Idle M. S., Adams L. Carbon monoxide yields of cigarettes and their relation to nicotine yield and type of filter. Br Med J. 1975 Jul 12;3(5975):71–73. doi: 10.1136/bmj.3.5975.71. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Russell M. A., Wilson C., Cole P. V., Idle M., Feyerabend C. Comparison of increases in carboxyhaemoglobin after smoking "extra-mild" and "non-mild" cigarettes. Lancet. 1973 Sep 29;2(7831):687–690. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(73)92533-6. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Saloojee Y., Vesey C. J., Cole P. V., Russell M. A. Carboxyhaemoglobin and plasma thiocyanate: complementary indicators of smoking behaviour? Thorax. 1982 Jul;37(7):521–525. doi: 10.1136/thx.37.7.521. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- The disalienation of the NHS. Br Med J. 1978 Jul 1;2(6129):1–2. [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Turner J. A., Sillett R. W., McNicol M. W. Effect of cigar smoking on carboxyhaemoglobin and plasma nicotine concentrations in primary pipe and cigar smokers and ex-cigarette smokers. Br Med J. 1977 Nov 26;2(6099):1387–1389. doi: 10.1136/bmj.2.6099.1387. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
- Wald N., Idle M., Bailey A. Carboxyhaemoglobin levels and inhaling habits in cigarette smokers. Thorax. 1978 Apr;33(2):201–206. doi: 10.1136/thx.33.2.201. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]