The influence of tobacco smoke on indoor atmospheres: I. An overview

Abstract

The adverse health effects of actively inhaled tobacco smoke on the smoker are well known. What is less clear is how the nonsmoker is affected by long-term exposure to and passive inhalation of air contaminated by tobacco smoke. Studies on the chemical composition of tobacco smoke have resulted in the identification of numerous compounds, among which are established animal carcinogens and cocarcinogens, ciliostats, irritants, and other noxious substances. These are emitted into the atmosphere whenever cigarettes, cigars or pipes are smoked, especially via the sidestream smoke, that portion of the smoke produced between the puffs while the tobacco smoulders. Concentration levels of constituents such as carbon monoxide, benzo[ a]pyrene and nicotine have been measured in public places (i.e., indoors) and in laboratory controlled indoor environments. In a number of instances, carbon monoxide levels, depending upon room size, number of cigarettes or cigars/pipes smoked, ventilation rates, etc., are found to approach (if not exceed) the threshold limit value. In nonsmokers, passive inhalation of tobacco smoke results in slightly elevated carboxyhemoglobin levels and the appearance of nicotine in the urine. Animals chronically exposed to tobacco smoke develop lesions of the respiratory tract. Related human data show that school children from smoking families are more prone to develop respiratory infections as are one-year-old babies of smoking mothers.