Quantification of population exposure to secondhand smoke
Creators: name: University Of California Office Of The President
Publisher: name: University of California Office of the President
publisherIdentifier: https://ror.org/00dmfq477
publisherIdentifierScheme: ROR
Year: 2024

description: To determine the health risks from secondhand smoke, it is important to know the pollutant concentrations to which people are exposed and the durations of their exposures. Despite public concern about secondhand smoke, there are surprisingly few studies in California that actually measure the pollutant levels to which people are exposed as a result of smoking activity. Recent advances in monitoring instruments make it possible to measure secondhand smoke in the actual places where people are exposed. Indeed, some of our past studies have used these advanced monitoring instruments to measure indoor air pollution in California restaurants, taverns, bars, lounges, and automobiles.
 
 
 
 
 
 Without reasonable estimates of the pollutant levels caused by secondhand smoke, it is difficult to study whether its adverse pollutants, such as particles and carbon monoxide, come from smoking or from activities such as cooking or outdoor sources. Virtually no data are available on indoor air quality levels before and after smoking intervention steps. In a previous 3-year study, we measured fine particle air pollutant concentrations on multiple visits to a California sports tavern both before and after smoking prohibition. Fine particle concentrations, which can penetrate deep into the lungs, dropped 77% after smoking was prohibited in the tavern.
 
 
 
 
 
 Since more potential ETS exposure occurs in the home than in any other location, the optimal place for measuring and modeling exposure is the home. We propose to study secondhand smoke in the home using direct measurements under controlled experimental conditions. The resulting data will enable us to develop a computer model that allows us to predict and understand pollutant levels due to smoking and other sources and the effect of interior door positions, window openings, house configuration, and smoking activity patterns. Closed doors may cause rooms in homes sometimes to act as compartments collecting pollutants. By characterizing and modeling pollutants in controlled monitoring experments, it will be possible to predict pollutant levels at other similar locations from information on smoking patterns, room volumes, and ventilation rates.
 
 
 
 
 
 As part of the proposed research, we will adapt existing monitoring instruments to operate automatically, storing readings continuously on portable computers. These new automated systems should allow secondhand smoke levels to be measured more effectively in future studies. We also will test the accuracy of the model predictions using our measurements in real homes. Finally, using data from these studies, together with published studies on the charact-eristics of California homes and the activity patterns of California residents, we will develop a general computerized total exposure model to predict the population distributions of exposures. For example, information on the time spent in homes, motor vehicles, etc., and corresponding pollutant profiles for these locations will allow us to estimate combined exposure. Such a model consolidates existing knowledge on human exposure and provides a powerful tool for assessing health risks, guiding public health decisions, and choosing smoking intervention strategies.