PASSIVE SMOKING IN TRAIN COACHES - EXPERI MENTAL MEASURES IN THE FRENCH TGV

Objectives: Passive smoking has been demonstrated in many situations. We designed an experimental protocol to measure passive smoking in the coaches of the French high-speed train (TGV) and to attempt to identi fy interindividual variability in sensitivity. Methods: Ten healthy no n-smokers (5 males, 5 females) volunteered to avoid exposure to tabacc o smoke for the duration of the study. On three separate occasion they were subjected to a 5-hour trip in the smoking coaches of the French TGV (south-east line). Twelve-hour urine samples were collected before each trip and over the following 72 hours. Urinary cotinine was measu red in each fraction. Results: Significant levels of urinary cotinine were found for a prolonged period in these passive smokers. Eliminatio n of the tobacco by-product was similar to the level observed in subje cts smoking 2 to 5 cigarettes per day. The kinetics of cotinine elimin ation was reproducible from one trip to another for any given individu al, however significant interindividual variability was observed despi te normal liver function in all. Conclusion: Measurement of urinary co tinine is potentially useful in non-smokers who are involuntarily expo sed to tobacco smoke and who wish to know the extent of their exposure .