Studies of the interaction of psychological and pharmacological determinants of smoking: II. Effects of urinary pH on cigarette smoking

Pharmacological evidence indicates that the rate of excretion of unmetabolized nicotine depends in part on the pH of the urine. The more acid the urine, the greater the excretion of nicotine. To test the relationship of urinary pH to actual smoking behavior, 2 studies were conducted--the 1st with 7 long-time heavy smokers (mean age 35.9 yrs) and the 2nd with 14 less experienced smokers (mean age 26.4 yrs)--in which pH was manipulated by the administration of vitamin C or acidulin. Ss smoked more when urine was acidified than when it was uncontrolled. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved).