Problem/Objective: To assess the feasibility of collecting saliva and spent cigarette butts through different modes of data collection from smokers in different countries and to assess the impact of the European Union ‘10/1/10' standard, which limits machine tested levels of tar, nicotine, and carbon monoxide, on biomarkers of smoke exposure.

Methods: 1,345 smokers who completed a face to face or telephone survey in nationally representative surveys about tobacco use from the US, UK, Canada, Australia, Mexico, and Uruguay were invited to provide a saliva sample and five cigarette butts for analyses. Data collection was done either entirely through the mail or face-to-face depending on the country.

Results: Fieldwork is completed in the US and Mexico and ongoing in the other countries. In the US, 54% of smokers provided saliva and cigarette butts through a mail-based approach, but 87% of Mexican smokers participated using a face to face approach. Comparative response rate data by country and mode of data collection will be reported as well as cotinine levels of smokers in the UK (subject to the EU 10/1/10 policy) and smokers in other countries. Tar staining patterns on cigarette butts will be used to measure puffing intensity between UK smokers and smokers from other countries.

Conclusions: The approaches used in this study show that it is possible to collect biologic and physical materials from the general population of smokers. This information can be used to supplement policy evaluation efforts as well as open up new research collaborations with basic scientists.