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Comparative Study
. 2008 Jun;17(3):159-65.
doi: 10.1136/tc.2007.020479. Epub 2008 Feb 26.

A 32-country comparison of tobacco smoke derived particle levels in indoor public places

A Hyland  1 , M J Travers, C Dresler, C Higbee, K M Cummings
Affiliations
Comparative Study

A 32-country comparison of tobacco smoke derived particle levels in indoor public places

A Hyland et al. Tob Control. 2008 Jun.

Abstract

Objective: To compare tobacco smoke-derived particulate levels in transportation and hospitality venues with and without smoking in 32 countries using a standardised measurement protocol.

Methods: The TSI SidePak AM510 Personal Aerosol Monitor was used to measure the concentration of particulate matter less than 2.5 microns in diameter (PM(2.5)) in 1822 bars, restaurants, retail outlets, airports and other workplaces in 32 geographically dispersed countries between 2003 and 2007.

Results: Geometric mean PM(2.5) levels were highest in Syria (372 microg/m(3)), Romania (366 microg/m(3)) and Lebanon (346 microg/m(3)), while they were lowest in the three countries that have nationwide laws prohibiting smoking in indoor public places (Ireland at 22 microg/m(3), Uruguay at 18 microg/m(3) and New Zealand at 8 microg/m(3)). On average, the PM(2.5) levels in places where smoking was observed was 8.9 times greater (95% CI 8.0 to 10) than levels in places where smoking was not observed.

Conclusions: Levels of indoor fine particle air pollution in places where smoking is observed are typically greater than levels that the World Health Organization and US Environmental Protection Agency have concluded are harmful to human health.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing interests: None.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
The TSI SidePak AM510 Personal Aerosol Monitor.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Geometric mean fine particle air pollution with and without smoking by type of place.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Geometric mean fine particle air pollution with and without smoking by world region.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Klepeis NE, et al. Determining size-specific emission factors for environmental tobacco smoke particles. Aerosol Sci Tech. 2003;37:780–90.
    1. US Department of Health and Human Services. The health consequences of involuntary exposure to tobacco smoke: a report of the Surgeon General. US Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Coordinating Center for Health Promotion, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Office on Smoking and Health; 2006.
    1. IARC Monographs on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans. Tobacco smoke and involuntary smoking. Geneva: International Agency for Research on Cancer (World Health Organization); 2002. p. 83. - PMC - PubMed
    1. California Environmental Protection Agency. Proposed identification of environmental tobacco smoke as a toxic air contaminant. Part B: Health effects. Sacramento, California: California Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment; 2005.
    1. World Health Organization. WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) http://www.who.int/tobacco/framework/en/ (accessed 12 November 2007)

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