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Blood carboxyhaemoglobin levels in Indian bidi and cigarette smokers
1Department of Pulmonary Medicine and Haematology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India.
Insights
Smoking significantly elevates blood carboxyhaemoglobin (COHb) levels in all smokers compared to non-smokers. Symptomatic cigarette smokers showed the highest COHb, though no correlation was found with smoking indices or red blood cell volume.
Area of Science:
- Toxicology
- Hematology
- Environmental Health
Background:
- Smoking is a major source of carbon monoxide exposure.
- Carbon monoxide exposure leads to elevated carboxyhaemoglobin (COHb) levels in the blood.
- COHb can impair oxygen transport and have health implications.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify blood carboxyhaemoglobin (COHb) levels in various smoking groups and compare them to non-smokers.
- To investigate potential differences in COHb levels among different types of smokers (bidi, cigarette, mixed).
- To explore the relationship between COHb levels, smoking indices, and packed cell volume.
Main Methods:
- Blood samples were collected from healthy non-smokers and various groups of smokers (bidi, cigarette, mixed, symptomatic cigarette smokers).
- Carboxyhaemoglobin (COHb) levels were measured using double wavelength spectrophotometry.
- Statistical analysis was performed to compare COHb levels between groups and assess correlations.
Main Results:
- All smoking groups exhibited significantly higher blood COHb levels compared to healthy non-smokers (p < 0.001).
- Symptomatic cigarette smokers presented marginally higher COHb levels than other smoking categories.
- No significant correlation was observed between smoking indices and COHb levels, nor between COHb and packed cell volume.
Conclusions:
- Smoking, regardless of type, substantially increases blood carboxyhaemoglobin.
- Symptomatic cigarette smokers may experience a slightly greater burden of COHb.
- COHb levels in smokers are not directly correlated with the intensity of smoking or red blood cell volume.
Abstract:
Blood carboxyhaemoglobin (COHb) was estimated by double wave length spectrophotometry in 58 healthy non-smokers, 27 bidi smokers, 25 cigarette smokers, 25 mixed smokers (all asymptomatic) and 20 symptomatic cigarette smokers. The blood COHb levels were significantly higher among all smoking groups compared to the normal healthy controls (p less than 0.001). Among the various smoking groups, the symptomatic cigarette smokers had marginally higher COHb levels compared to the other groups. There was no correlation between the smoking indices and COHb levels and COHb and the packed cell volume of red cells.