Plasma nicotine levels in pipe smokers
K. McCusker, E. McNabb and R. Bone
The lower morbidity and mortality of pipe smokers compared with cigarette
smokers may be due to different inhaling patterns of pipe smokers. Plasma
nicotine levels were determined in three groups of pipe smokers: (1)
primary pipe smokers, (2) persons who smoke both pipes and cigarettes, and
(3) secondary pipe smokers, ie, former cigarette smokers who now smoke
pipes only. Primary pipe smokers inhaled minimally, as evidenced by low
plasma nicotine concentrations after pipe smoking. In contrast, persons who
smoke cigarettes and also pipes had high plasma nicotine levels after pipe
smoking (mean, 22 ng/mL) and, hence, must have inhaled. Secondary pipe
smokers (former cigarette smokers) had mostly low levels of plasma nicotine
(mean, 6 ng/mL), suggesting that not all cigarette smokers continue to
inhale when converting to pipe smoking. Pipe smoking may be safer than
cigarette smoking in certain individuals.
