Combined SPE and HPTLC as a screening assay of urinary cotinine from male adolescents exposed to environmental tobacco smoke

Cotinine. as the main metabolite of nicotine, has been determined in urine using solid-phase extraction and the high-performance thin-lever chromatogr aphic (SPE-HPTLC) method. The urine samples were collected from a group of 35 male adolescents which were moderate or significantly exposed to home en vironmental tobacco smoke (ETS). 1-methvl-2-pyrrolidinone was used as the i nternal standard in the proposed screening procedure. The thin-layer chroma tograms were evaluated densitometrically after visualization of cotinine sp ots with ninhydrin and cadmium acetate solution. The described SPE-HPTLC pr ocedure indicated good selectivity, sensitivity and reproducibility, enabli ng reliable verification of interview collected questionnaire data in famil ies exhibiting a diversified level of ETS. The results of cotinine measurem ents by the proposed method were applied for assessment of hazards from hom e ETS on the health status of elementary schoolboys, especially an increase d risk for infectious respiratory tract diseases and exercise-induced bronc hospasm.