Issue 5, 2006

Elevated concentrations of endotoxin in indoor air due to cigarette smoking

Abstract

Exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) is an important worldwide public health issue. The present study demonstrates that cigarette smoke can be a major source of endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide, LPS) in indoor environments. Gas-chromatography/mass-spectrometry was used to determine 3-hydroxy fatty acids as markers of endotoxin in air-borne house dust in homes of smokers and non-smokers. Air concentrations of endotoxin were 4–63 times higher in rooms of smoking students than in identical rooms of non-smoking students. The fact that cigarette smoke contains large amounts of endotoxin may partly explain the high prevalence of respiratory disorders among smokers and may also draw attention to a hitherto neglected risk factor of ETS.

Graphical abstract: Elevated concentrations of endotoxin in indoor air due to cigarette smoking

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
18 Jan 2006
Accepted
21 Mar 2006
First published
27 Mar 2006

J. Environ. Monit., 2006,8, 519-522

Elevated concentrations of endotoxin in indoor air due to cigarette smoking

A. Sebastian, C. Pehrson and L. Larsson, J. Environ. Monit., 2006, 8, 519 DOI: 10.1039/B600706F

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