Exposure to cadmium among sheesha smokers and how do they compare to cigarette smokers

Blood cadmium (B-Cd) and urinary cadmium (U-Cd) were assessed among non-smo kers, cigarette smokers, sheesha smokers, and both cigarette and sheesha sm okers. Urinary cotinine (U-cotinine), which is a metabolite of nicotine wit h a biological half-life of >10 h was used as a marker of exposure to tobac co smoke. Results indicate that smoking sheesha is another source of tobacc o exposure. B-Cd, U-Cd, and U-cotinine were significantly higher among ciga rette and both cigarette and sheesha smokers. U-cotinine was associated onl y with B-Cd concentrations. Exposure to Cd from smoking cigarette or/and sh eesha could effect some of the renal dysfunction indices.