We sampled your child's saliva for cotinine, an alkaloid found in tobacco. Analyzing saliva for cotinine is used to determine exposure to tobacco smoke.
Environmental tobacco smoke increases the risk for cognitive and behavioral issues and attention problems associated with ADHD. Exposure to secondhand smoke can also increase the risk of ear infections, cause respiratory symptoms, and increase the frequency and severity of asthma attacks.
There are no regulatory standards for cotinine in saliva, but there is no safe amount of tobacco exposure in children. To protect your family from exposure to tobacco, do not smoke or let anyone smoke in your home or vehicle, and defer to the following guidelines:
