This study compares the health effects of dermal and inhalational exposure to thirdhand cigarette smoke to those of inhalational exposure to secondhand cigarette smoke in healthy, adult nonsmokers. Our hypothesis is that dermal exposure increases exposure to the tobacco specific carcinogen, NNK and may affect both endothelial function and epidermal integrity.
Thirdhand cigarette smoke is the smoke chemicals that persist in the environment after smoking. Indoors, they can be found both on surfaces and in the air. Thirdhand smoke derives from secondhand smoke and contains the chemicals that stick to surfaces, are re-emitted into the air and that form by chemical reactions both on surfaces and in the air. Thirdhand smoke can contain higher concentrations of the tobacco-specific nitrosamine and known carcinogen 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK) than secondhand smoke, because nicotine reacts to form NNK in the indoor environment. Dermal exposure to thirdhand smoke includes nicotine, NNK and other tobacco-specific nitrosamines, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and volatile organic compounds. Inhalational exposure to thirdhand smoke includes nicotine, ultrafine particles and volatile organic compounds. Previous studies have shown that inhalational exposure to secondhand cigarette smoke causes endothelial dysfunction, which is a risk factor for heart disease and heart attacks.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
66
Cigarette smoke, generated by a smoking machine and aged is used to reproduce exposure to secondhand and thirdhand cigarette smoke.
Clean air, created by high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) and charcoal filtration and temperature and humidity control. Clean cotton clothing.
Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital
San Francisco, California, United States
Changes in flow-mediated dilation (FMD) of the brachial artery, caused by pollution exposures, measured by ultrasound
High-resolution ultrasound of right brachial artery is performed 1 cm distal to antecubital fossa with a 10 megahertz (MHz) linear array probe coupled to a General Electric (GE) Vivid 7 Imaging System. To assess endothelium-dependent dilation, after recording baseline B-mode ultrasound images of the brachial artery and spectral Doppler images of flow velocity, a forearm cuff is inflated to 250 mmHg for 5 minutes to induce reactive hyperemia. Immediately after deflation, Doppler images are obtained to measure reactive hyperemia. FMD of brachial artery will be determined every 15 seconds between 30 and 120 seconds after cuff deflation to capture maximal dilation.The % FMD will be calculated as ratio between the maximum post cuff release brachial artery diameter and baseline diameter. By comparing changes in FMD before exposure, after exposure and next day, we will be able to assess effects of exposure on endothelial function and the potential recovery from these effects.
Time frame: Baseline (before exposure) 30 minutes (after 30 minutes exposure) and 3 hours.
Changes in trans-epidermal water loss caused by pollution exposures, comparing intact skin to tape-stripped skin
We will measure trans-epidermal water loss (TEWL) on the volar forearm using a dermal relative humidity monitor (model IP52, Delfin Technologies Inc.) on adjacent circles of intact skin and skin that has been tape stripped prior to exposure. By comparing changes in TEWL at these two sites, before and after exposure and at day 2 and day 5, we will be able to detect any effects of dermal cigarette smoke exposure on skin barrier function and the rate of barrier function recovery.
Time frame: Baseline, 30 minutes, 3 hours, 2 days, 5 days
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