RESUMO
This study included 50 adult healthy volunteers; 20 currently smokers, 20 wives of active smokers spouse [passive smokers] and the remaining 10 subjects were nonsmokers controls. Ventilatory pulmonary function tests [FVC% predicted, FEV1/FVC ratio, FEV1% predicted and FEF25-7.5% predicted] were made to all subjects. Urinary cotinine, serum cotinine and lipid peroxides levels were assessed using spectrophotometric method. Data demonstrated that passive smokers are at risk to develop subsequent destructive lung disease, which was evident by an increase in the level of lipid peroxides [marker of oxidative stress] and a decline in the spirometric indices [especially a decline in FEV1% predictive which is the most strongly predictive index of chronic obstructive lung diseases in adults]. The decline in FEF25-75% predictive indicated the possibility of small airway diseases. The benefit of the use of urinary and serum cotinine as cheap biomarkers of exposure to cigarette smoke was clarified