Roman J. Jandarov

Bio: Roman J. Jandarov is an academic researcher from Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center. The author has contributed to research in topics: Cotinine & Nicotine. The author has an hindex of 1, co-authored 1 publications receiving 1 citations.

Hand Nicotine and Cotinine In Children Exposed to Cigars: A Pilot Study.

Abstract: Objectives Past research has not examined secondhand and thirdhand smoke (THS) exposure in children of cigar smokers. We examined hand nicotine and cotinine levels in children of cigar smokers to explore the contribution of cigar smoke to tobacco smoke exposure (TSE). Methods Participants were children (N = 24; mean (SD) age = 6.5 (3.6) years) whose parents smoked cigars only or poly-used cigars and/or cigarettes. Primary outcomes were hand nicotine and urinary cotinine levels. Results All children had detectable hand nicotine (range: 7.6-312.5ng/wipe) and cotinine (range: 0.3-100.3ng/ml). Positive correlations were found between hand nicotine and cotinine (r = 0.693, p = .001), hand nicotine and parents who also smoked cigarettes (r = 0.407, p = .048), and hand nicotine and number of smokers around the child (r = 0.436, p = .03). Hand nicotine (r = -0.464, p = .02), but not cotinine (r = -0.266, p = .26), was negatively correlated with child age. Multiple regression results indicated a positive association between hand nicotine and cotinine (p = .002; semi-partial r2 = 0.415), irrespective of child age. Conclusions The significant association of hand nicotine with urinary cotinine suggests that THS pollution should be assessed in evaluating children's overall TSE to cigars and other tobacco products, and hand nicotine may be a proxy for overall TSE. Younger children may have increased THS pollutant uptake.

Distinguishing Exposure to Secondhand and Thirdhand Tobacco Smoke among U.S. Children Using Machine Learning: NHANES 2013-2016.

Abstract: While the thirdhand smoke (THS) residue from tobacco smoke has been recognized as a distinct public health hazard, there are currently no gold standard biomarkers to differentiate THS from secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure. This study used machine learning algorithms to assess which combinations of biomarkers and reported tobacco smoke exposure measures best differentiate children into three groups: no/minimal tobacco smoke exposure (NEG); predominant THS exposure (TEG); and mixed SHS and THS exposure (MEG). Participants were 4485 nonsmoking 3-17-year-olds from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2013-2016. We fitted and tested random forest models, and the majority (76%) of children were classified in NEG, 16% were classified in TEG, and 8% were classified in MEG. The final classification model based on reported exposure, biomarker, and biomarker ratio variables had a prediction accuracy of 95%. This final model had prediction accuracies of 100% for NEG, 88% for TEG, followed by 71% for MEG. The most important predictors were the reported number of household smokers, serum cotinine, serum hydroxycotinine, and urinary 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanol (NNAL). In the absence of validated biomarkers specific to THS, comprehensive biomarker and questionnaire data for tobacco smoke exposure can distinguish children exposed to SHS and THS with high accuracy.

The Associations of Trans-3′-Hydroxy Cotinine, Cotinine, and the Nicotine Metabolite Ratio in Pediatric Patients with Tobacco Smoke Exposure

Abstract: (1) Background: Trans-3′-hydroxy cotinine (3HC) and cotinine (COT) are tobacco smoke exposure (TSE) biomarkers and the 3HC/COT ratio is a marker of CYP2A6 activity, an enzyme which metabolizes nicotine. The primary objective was to assess the associations of these TSE biomarkers with sociodemographics and TSE patterns in children who lived with ≥1 smoker. (2) Methods: A convenience sample of 288 children (mean age (SD) = 6.42 (4.8) years) was recruited. Multiple linear regression models were built to assess associations of sociodemographics and TSE patterns with urinary biomarker response variables: (1) 3HC, (2) COT, (3) 3HC+COT sum, and (4) 3HC/COT ratio. (3) Results: All children had detectable 3HC (Geometric Mean [GeoM] = 32.03 ng/mL, 95%CI = 26.97, 38.04) and COT (GeoM = 10.24 ng/mL, 95%CI = 8.82, 11.89). Children with higher cumulative TSE had higher 3HC and COT (β^ = 0.03, 95%CI = 0.01, 0.06, p = 0.015 and β^ = 0.03, 95%CI = 0.01, 0.05, p = 0.013, respectively). Highest 3HC+COT sum levels were in children who were Black (β^ = 0.60, 95%CI = 0.04, 1.17, p = 0.039) and who had higher cumulative TSE (β^ = 0.03, 95%CI = 0.01, 0.06, p = 0.015). Lowest 3HC/COT ratios were in children who were Black (β^ = −0.42, 95%CI = −0.78, −0.07, p = 0.021) and female (β^ = −0.32, 95%CI = −0.62, −0.01, p = 0.044). (4) Conclusion: Results indicate that there are racial and age-related differences in TSE, most likely due to slower nicotine metabolism in non-Hispanic Black children and in younger children.

Policy-relevant differences between secondhand and thirdhand smoke: strengthening protections from involuntary exposure to tobacco smoke pollutants

Abstract: Starting in the 1970s, individuals, businesses and the public have increasingly benefited from policies prohibiting smoking indoors, saving thousands of lives and billions of dollars in healthcare expenditures. Smokefree policies to protect against secondhand smoke exposure, however, do not fully protect the public from the persistent and toxic chemical residues from tobacco smoke (also known as thirdhand smoke) that linger in indoor environments for years after smoking stops. Nor do these policies address the economic costs that individuals, businesses and the public bear in their attempts to remediate this toxic residue. We discuss policy-relevant differences between secondhand smoke and thirdhand smoke exposure: persistent pollutant reservoirs, pollutant transport, routes of exposure, the time gap between initial cause and effect, and remediation and disposal. We examine four policy considerations to better protect the public from involuntary exposure to tobacco smoke pollutants from all sources. We call for (a) redefining smokefree as free of tobacco smoke pollutants from secondhand and thirdhand smoke; (b) eliminating exemptions to comprehensive smoking bans; (c) identifying indoor environments with significant thirdhand smoke reservoirs; and (d) remediating thirdhand smoke. We use the case of California as an example of how secondhand smoke-protective laws may be strengthened to encompass thirdhand smoke protections. The health risks and economic costs of thirdhand smoke require that smokefree policies, environmental protections, real estate and rental disclosure policies, tenant protections, and consumer protection laws be strengthened to ensure that the public is fully protected from and informed about the risks of thirdhand smoke exposure.