Pengaruh Perilaku Merokok terhadap Peningkatan Kadar Dopamin dalam Darah pada Perokok Aktif dan Pasif di Pasar Kwala Bekala Medan

Abstract

Background: Currently, smoking causes the deaths of 6 million people worldwide each year, with approximately 600,000 deaths related to secondhand smoke exposure (World Health Organization, WHO). Smokers can be categorized into two groups: active smokers and passive smokers. One molecular biomarker associated with smoking behavior is an increase in dopamine levels in the bloods. Objective: This study aims to analyze the difference in dopamine levels in the blood between active and passive smokers. Methods: This study is a comparative study using a cross-sectional approach. A questionnaire was used as the initial data for sample selection. The total sample consisted of 80 respondents, including 40 active smokers and 40 passive smokers. Blood samples (3 cc) were taken from the participants’ veins. Subsequently, the blood samples were then taken to the laboratory, and the dopamine levels were measured using the ELISA method. Results: The results showed that the average dopamine level in active smokers was higher, at 70.48±21.89, compared to that in passive smokers, at 65.98±25.30. However, the statistical analysis indicated no significant difference in dopamine levels between active and passive smokers (p=0.140), with a mean difference of 4.5 pg/ml. Conclusion: Smoking behavior can affect dopamine levels in the blood of both active and passive smokers. The lack of significant difference suggests that exposure to cigarette smoke poses a similar risk to both groups. Therefore, public awareness needs to be raised regarding the health impact of smoking, and smoking bans in public places, such as Smoke-Free Zones, should be enforced to protect others from the dangers of secondhand smoke exposure.