An experimental investigation of tobacco smoke pollution in cars

Abstract

Introduction: Tobacco smoke pollution (TSP) has been identifi ed as a serious public health threat. Although the number of jurisdictions that prohibit smoking in public places has increased rapidly, just a few successful attempts have been made to pass similar laws prohibiting smoking in cars, where the cabin space may contribute to concentrated exposure. In particular, TSP constitutes a potentially serious health hazard to children because of prolonged exposure and their small size. Methods:The present study investigated the levels of TSP in 18 cars via the measurement of fi ne respirable particles (<2.5 microns in diameter or PM 2.5 ) under a variety of in vivo conditions. Car owners smoked a single cigarette in their cars in each of fi ve controlled air-sampling conditions. Each condition varied on movement of the car, presence of air conditioning, open windows, and combinations of these airfl ow infl uences. Results:Smoking just a single cigarette in a car generated extremely high average levels of PM 2.5 : more than 3,800 m g/m 3 in the condition with the least airfl ow (motionless car, windows closed). In moderate ventilation conditions (air conditioning or having the smoking driver hold the cigarette next to a half-open window), the average levels of PM 2.5 were reduced but still at signifi cantly high levels (air conditioning = 844 m g/m 3 ; holding cigarette next to a half-open window = 223 m g/m 3 ).Discussion: This study demonstrates that TSP in cars reaches unhealthy levels, even under realistic ventilation conditions, lending support to efforts occurring across a growing number of jurisdictions to educate people and prohibit smoking in cars in the presence of children. IntroductionTobacco smoke pollution (TSP; also known as environmental tobacco smoke, secondhand smoke, and passive smoke) is a complex mixture of contaminants released by the burning and exhalation of tobacco products in the form of various gases and particulate matter. TSP is responsible for the preventable morbidity and mortality of hundreds of thousands of nonsmokers worldwide ( ( Glantz & Parmley, 1995 ;Law, Morris, & Wald, 1997 ;Taylor, Johnson, & Kazemi, 1992 ). Recently, a review of the epidemiological evidence concluded that TSP was associated with a signifi cant increase in breast cancer among premenopausal women ( California Environmental Protection Agency, Air Resources Board, 2005 ).Of great concern is the health hazard that TSP exposure poses to children who are still developing physically and biologically. Compared with adults, children breathe more rapidly, absorb more pollutants because of their small size, have less developed immune systems, and are more vulnerable to cellular mutations ( Bearer, 2005 ), making them more susceptible to the effects of TSP exposure. TSP is associated with a greater likelihood of asthma, triggering an asthma attack, and chronic lung diseases ( USDHHS, 1986 ), and it has been recognized as a cause of sudden infant death syndrome ( Anderson, & Cook, 1997 ; USDHHS, 1986 ). It has b...

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