Dose-dependent acute effects of passive smoking on left ventricular cardiac functions in healthy volunteers.

Objective: We have previously shown that acute passive smoking impaired left ventricular diastolic function in healthy volunteers. The aim of this study was to determine whether length of exposure and/or ambient smoke concentration is the key determinant of this outcome.

Methods: We measured blood carboxyhemoglobin (COHb)and lactate level to investigate the acute effects of passive smoking on tissue oxygenation.