Interview with Professor Ian Blair on his recent work on smoke exposure and nicotine metabolites

Dr Ian Blair (University of Pennsylvania), spoke to Bioanalysis Zone in April 2011 about the results and future implications of his recent work on smoke exposure and nicotine metabolites, published in Bioanalysis. Why is it important for scientists to assess smoke exposure and what are the limitations of current methods used for assessment? Smokers readily adjust puffing parameters as a result of cigarette type as well as tar and nicotine levels. This alteration of puffing behavior, referred to as compensation, can be employed by smokers to extract more nicotine, tar and carbon monoxide than stated on the label [1]. It...