Abstract
The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between urinary cotinine and total 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanol (NNAL) concentrations in non-smoking staff and the indoor levels of fine particles (PM2.5) in hospitality venues that allow smoking, with respect to demographic and indoor environmental factors. We evaluated 62 hospitality venues that allowed smoking in Seoul, Korea. A real-time aerosol monitor was used to measure indoor PM2.5 concentrations. Field technicians recorded indoor environmental characteristics. One non-smoking staff member in each hospitality venue was tested for urinary cotinine and total NNAL concentrations. Demographic characteristics were obtained from self-reported staff questionnaires. Natural-log (ln)-transformed PM2.5 concentrations were significantly correlated with the ln-transformed cotinine (r = 0.31) and the total NNAL concentrations (r = 0.32). In multivariable regression analysis, the urinary cotinine concentrations of the staff members were significantly correlated with indoor PM2.5 concentrations; those with the highest concentrations were more likely to be women or staff members that worked in venues with a volume <375 m3. Total NNAL concentrations were significantly correlated only with indoor PM2.5 concentrations. Indoor PM2.5 may be used as an indicator for urinary cotinine and total NNAL concentrations in non-smoking staff members in hospitality venues that allow smoking.
Highlights
Secondhand smoke (SHS) contains more than 7000 chemicals, including more than 69 known carcinogens [1]
Several indoor environmental factors were significantly associated with indoor PM2.5 concentrations (Table 1), which were significantly higher in bars than in restaurants (p < 0.001)
62 hospitality venues that allowed smoking and their non-smoking staff members were evaluated to determine the relationships between urinary cotinine and total NNAL concentrations and indoor PM2.5 concentrations with respect to demographics and indoor environmental factors
Summary
Secondhand smoke (SHS) contains more than 7000 chemicals, including more than 69 known carcinogens [1]. Exposure to SHS is associated with cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease, and lung cancer [2,3,4,5]. Based on data from 192 countries, SHS exposure caused 603,000 premature deaths in 2004 [6]. In the United States, SHS accounted for the death of more than 41,000 adults and approximately 900 infants in 2006 [7]. Based on increased evidence of adverse health effects due to SHS exposure, many countries have implemented smoke-free regulations in public places, including hospitality venues.
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