Detecting biomarkers of secondhand marijuana smoke in young children

Details

• Alternative Title:
  Pediatr Res
• Personal Author:
  Wilson, Karen M. ; Torok, Michelle R. ; Wei, Binnian ; Wang, Lanqing ; Robinson, Michelle ; Sosnof, Connie S. ; Blount, Benjamin C.
• Description:
  Background
  
  The impact of secondhand marijuana smoke exposure on children is unknown. New methods allow detection of secondhand marijuana smoke in children.
  
  Methods
  
  We studied children ages 1 mo to 2 y hospitalized with bronchiolitis in Colorado from 2013 to 2015. Parents completed a survey, and urine samples were analyzed for cotinine using LC/MS/MS (limits of detection 0.03 ng/ml) and marijuana metabolites including COOH-THC (limits of detection 0.015 ng/ml).
  
  Results
  
  A total of 43 subjects had urine samples available for analysis. Most (77%) of the subjects were male, and 52% were less than 1 y of age. COOH-THC was detectable in 16% of the samples analyzed (THC+); the range in COOH-THC concentration was 0.03–1.5 ng/ml. Two subjects had levels >1 ng/ml. Exposure did not differ by gender or age. Non-white children had more exposure than white children (44 vs. 9%; P < 0.05). 56% of children with cotinine >2.0 ng/ml were THC+, compared with 7% of those with lower cotinine (P < 0.01).
  
  Conclusion
  
  Metabolites of marijuana smoke can be detected in children; in this cohort, 16% were exposed. Detectable COOH-THC is more common in children with tobacco smoke exposure. More research is needed to assess the health impacts of marijuana smoke exposure on children and inform public health policy.
  
  
• Subjects:
  Biomarkers Child, Preschool Cohort Studies Cotinine Dronabinol Female Hospitalization Humans Infant Limit Of Detection Male Marijuana Smoking Parents Sex Factors Smoke Tobacco Urinalysis

  More +
• Source:
  Pediatr Res. 81(4):589-592.
• Pubmed ID:
  27911435
• Pubmed Central ID:
  PMC5701510
• Document Type:
  Journal Article
• Funding:
  CC999999/Intramural CDC HHS/United States
• Place as Subject:
  Colorado
• Volume:
  81
• Issue:
  4
• Collection(s):
  CDC Public Access
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha256:13163978bd5eeec18c5eaa2215c3bcbbc1d5a057fa3ace8da43acc3ffac67a35
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/49985/cdc_49985_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 306.53 KB ]