Toenail Nicotine Level Predicts Lung Cancer

An interesting study published in the American Journal of Epidemiology suggests that nicotine levels measured in toenail clippings can predict one's risk of developing lung cancer. Researchers from the University of California San Diego and Harvard School of Public Health say that studies which attempt to quantify the amount of smoking by virtue of patient self-reported data doesn't accurately measure exposure to carcinogens and may be underestimating the adverse effects of smoking. The researchers found that people with the highest levels of nicotine in their nails were 3.57 times more likely to develop lung cancer, regardless of their reported smoking history. The scientists used toenail clippings because nails grow slowly and, over time, provide a more stable measure of nicotine than saliva or urine. Chemical analysis such as this is not a new idea. Hair analysis is widely used in forensic and environmental toxicology to detect bodily exposure to chemicals. [via Medical News Today]

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