Development of a novel second-hand smoke reduction device

Abstract

Smoking remains a worldwide health hazard. Smokers don't only put themselves at risk of serious health problems, but people around them arealso exposed to such potential danger. This passive exposition iscalled: Second Hand Smoke (SHS).To limit the SHS contamination in an Environmental Tobacco Smoke a new “Healthy Second Hand Smoke (HSHS)” device was developed. In this paper,we will explainthe functioningbasics of the HSHS device. It ismainly based on an insulatedsmoke compartment with transparent view, placed in the area where smokers and non-smokers exist together. Smoker inhalesand exhalessmoke through an“HSHS”accessory called “hand”which is related to the compartment by two hoses.In this compartment, an aspiration system is used to evacuate the smoke. Theefficiencyof the “HSHS”deviceis thenevaluated. For four hookah smokers, the Carbonemonoxide gas concentration was measured during 30 min in a5.3m3unventilatedexperimentalroom. A comparison was made between the smoke concentration in the unventilated room, with and without the use of the HSHS device.Statistical tests were performed in order to insure the validity of the results thatwere taken for four smokers only.The results showthat the use of HSHS device reduces second hand hookahinhalationsmoke, in a 5.3 m3unventilated room, by95.9% ± 28.2%, 91.8% ± 37.5%, 97.8% ± 15.7% and 98.5% ± 66.2% during 10, 15, 20 and 25 minutesrespectively.As aconclusion, this new smoking concept opens the way forless invasive smoking habitsin crowded environments.