Characteristics of Non-Smokers’ Exposure Using Indirect Smoking Indicators and Time Activity Patterns

Byung Lyul Woo,Hyeonsu Ryu,Jinhyeon Park,Dayoung Jung,Wonho Yang,Min Kyung Lim,Eun Young Park,Marcus J Ramirez

doi:10.3390/su12219099

Abstract

Since the global enforcement of smoke-free policies, indoor smoking has decreased significantly, and the characteristics of non-smokers’ exposure to secondhand smoke (SHS) has changed. The purpose of this study was to assess the temporal and spatial characteristics of SHS exposure in non-smokers by combining questionnaires and biomarkers with time activity patterns. To assess SHS exposure, biomarkers such as cotinine and 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-3-(pyridyl)-1-butanol (NNAL) in urine and nicotine in hair were collected from 100 non-smokers in Seoul. Questionnaires about SHS exposure and time activity patterns were also obtained from the participants. The analysis of biomarker samples indicated that about 10% of participants were exposed to SHS when compared with the criteria from previous studies. However, 97% of the participants reported that they were exposed to SHS at least once weekly. The participants were most exposed to SHS in the outdoor microenvironment, where they spent approximately 1.2 h daily. There was a significant correlation between the participants’ time spent outdoors and self-reported SHS exposure time (r2 = 0.935). In this study, a methodology using time activity patterns to assess temporal and spatial characteristics of SHS exposure was suggested. The results of this study may help develop policies for managing SHS exposure, considering the time activity patterns.

Highlights

Secondhand smoke (SHS) is defined as a mixture of the smoke from the burning of tobacco products and smoke exhaled by smokers [1]
16% were unemployed, 87% had an education level of college graduates or higher, 69% were married, and 70% resided in apartments or multi-family houses
27% were past smokers who had quit smoking, and 22% of the participants drank more than twice a week

Summary

Introduction

Secondhand smoke (SHS) is defined as a mixture of the smoke from the burning of tobacco products and smoke exhaled by smokers [1]. The World Health Organization (WHO) has estimated that, globally, more than 6 million people die from smoking, and the mortality rate from SHS exposure has reached 900,000 [6,7]. The WHO has organized the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) and encourages countries to implement education and awareness programs regarding the risks of SHS with the aim of a “Smoke Free World” [8]. According to the FCTC, fifteen developed and developing countries have successfully implemented smoke-free policies in indoor environments such as homes, workplaces, and public places during the last decade [9,10]

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