SMOKING, ALCOHOL-CONSUMPTION, AND LEUKOCYTE COUNTS

Blood was collected from 684 healthy volunteers and examined for total and differential white blood cell (WBC) counts. A subgroup also was t ested for numbers of T cells, B cells, and CD4 and CD8 subsets. Smokin g status and alcohol consumption were determined by means of questionn aire, and smoking status was verified with serum cotinine concentratio n. High smoking rate was associated with increases in all counts. Form er smokers abstinent less than 5 years still demonstrated elevated cou nts, whereas those abstinent more than 5 years had WBC counts comparab le to those in persons who were never smokers. Compared with levels in those who had never smoked, total WBC counts were 27% higher in curre nt smokers and 14% higher in former smokers who were abstinent for les s than 5 years. Lymphocyte counts were 9% higher in those consuming mo re than one alcoholic drink per day than in those consuming less alcoh ol, but drinking was not associated with other cell populations.