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Acute and Short-term Effects of Secondhand Smoke on Lung Function and Cytokine Production

¹ Institute of Human Performance and Rehabilitation, Centre for Research and Technology–Thessaly, Trikala, Greece; ² School of Sports, Performing Arts and Leisure, University of Wolverhampton, Wolverhampton, United Kingdom; ³ Department of Sport and Exercise Science, University of Thessaly, Trikala, Greece; ⁴ Department of Respiratory Medicine, University Hospital of Larissa, Larissa, Greece; and ⁵ Centre of Toxicology Science and Research, School of Medicine, University of Crete, Iraklio, Greece

Correspondence and requests for reprints should be addressed to Andreas D. Flouris, Ph.D., Institute of Human Performance and Rehabilitation, Centre for Research and Technology–Thessaly, 32 Siggrou Street, Trikala GR42100, Greece. E-mail: aflouris{at}cereteth.gr

Rationale: The acute effect of secondhand smoke (SHS) on lung function and the duration of system disruption remain unknown.

Objectives: To assess the SHS effects and their duration on lung function and inflammatory markers.

Methods: In a randomized single-blind crossover experiment data were obtained from 16 (8 women) nonsmoking adults at baseline and at 0, 1, and 3 hours after a 1-hour SHS exposure set at bar/restaurant SHS levels.

Measurements and Main Results: Serum and urine cotinine, lung function, and cytokines IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-, and IFN-. At 0 hours most lung function parameters were significantly reduced (indicative: FEV₁, 4.3 ± 0.4 vs. 3.8 ± 0.3 L; FEV₁/FVC, 0.9 ± 0.1 vs. 0.8 ± 0.1; P < 0.05) but at 3 hours they were at baseline levels. In contrast, cotinine (serum, 8.9 ± 3.2 vs. 35.5 ± 10.2 ng·ml^–1), IL-4 (41.3 ± 5.8 vs. 44.2 ± 4.5 pg·ml^–1), IL-5 (36.1 ± 3.2 vs. 60.1 ± 7.0 pg·ml^–1), IL-6 (2.5 ± 0.3 vs. 7.6 ± 1.4 pg·ml^–1) and IFN- (0.3 ± 0.2 vs. 0.6 ± 0.2 IU·ml^–1) at 3 hours were higher than at baseline (P < 0.05). IL-4 and TNF- increased only in men, whereas IL-5, IL-6, and IFN- were different between sexes after exposure (P < 0.05). Regression analyses revealed inverse associations of FEV₁ and FEV₁/FVC ratio with IL-5 (P < 0.05) in men and with IL-5 (P = 0.01), IL-6 (P < 0.001), IFN- (P = 0.034) and serum cotinine (P < 0.001) in women.

Conclusions: We conclude that 1 hour of SHS exposure at bar/restaurant levels is accompanied by significant decrements on lung function and marked increases in inflammatory cytokines, particularly in men. More importantly, whereas most smoke-induced effects on lung function appear to recede within 60 minutes, inflammatory cytokines remain elevated for at least 3 hours after exposure to SHS.

Key Words: passive smoking • cotinine • respiration • inflammatory markers

AT A GLANCE COMMENTARY Scientific Knowledge on the Subject Epidemiological studies have identified the long-term detrimental consequences of secondhand smoke (SHS), but the acute SHS effects and their duration, as well as the underlying physiological mechanisms, remain unexplored. What This Study Adds to the Field A 1-hour moderate SHS exposure is accompanied by significantly deteriorated lung function and marked increases in inflammatory cytokines, particularly in men. Although most SHS-induced effects on lung function appear to recede within 60 minutes, inflammatory cytokines remain elevated for at least 3 hours following SHS exposure.

 

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