Project outline:

The primary objective of the proposed research is the collection of biological samples for future cotinine analysis in ALSPAC. We have collected smoking behaviour on the offspring at regular intervals from age 8/9, and we are now planning the collection of further data at age 20/21.

We propose to begin data collection in October 2011. Postal urine collection kits for cotinine analysis will be sent to the ~5,000 individuals on whom we have smoking status data for at least one previous assessment point at either age 15/16 or 17/18.

We anticipate a period of ~6 months to send out and receive collection kits. We will then seek follow-on funding from the Cancer Research UK Population and Behavioural Sciences Committee to support cotinine analyses.

Cancer Research UK Tobacco Advisory Group have agreed to fund the collection of postal samples for subsequent analyses, and invited us to apply for follow-on funding once the response rate has been established.

These data will be a resource for subsequent analyses. As a first step, we will use these data, together with similar data collected at age 15/16 and 17/18 to characterise smoking initiation trajectories with greater precision than is possible using self-reported smoking behaviour data.

These derived variables will also be incorporated into the ALSPAC data set for future secondary analyses.