Environmental monitoring of secondhand smoke exposure

Abstract

The complex composition of secondhand smoke (SHS) provides a range of constituents that can be measured in environmental samples (air, dust and on surfaces) and therefore used to assess non-smokers' exposure to tobacco smoke. Monitoring SHS exposure (SHSe) in indoor environments provides useful information on the extent and consequences of SHSe, implementing and evaluating tobacco control programmes and behavioural interventions, and estimating overall burden of disease caused by SHSe. The most widely used markers have been vapour-phase nicotine and respirable particulate matter (PM). Numerous other environmental analytes of SHS have been measured in the air including carbon monoxide, 3-ethenylpyridine, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, tobacco-specific nitrosamines, nitrogen oxides, aldehydes and volatile organic compounds, as well as nicotine in dust and on surfaces. The measurement of nicotine in the air has the advantage of reflecting the presence of tobacco smoke. While PM measurements are not as specific, they can be taken continuously, allowing for assessment of exposure and its variation over time. In general, when nicotine and PM are measured in the same setting using a common sampling period, an increase in nicotine concentration of 1 μg/m3 corresponds to an average increase of 10 μg/m3 of PM. This topic assessment presents a comprehensive summary of SHSe monitoring approaches using environmental markers and discusses the strengths and weaknesses of these methods and approaches.

In-Home Air Pollution Is Linked to Respiratory Morbidity in Former Smokers with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

“…The lack of correlation between reported SHS and airborne nicotine concentrations is consistent with literature suggesting that selfreport of SHS often has low reliability (37). In addition, in our homes with detectable air nicotine, the concentrations were quite low and were equivalent to what one would expect from one to two cigarettes per day being smoked in the home (38). These concentrations are not inconsistent with an occasional visitor (nonresident) smoking in the house.…”

“…In addition, hair nicotine estimates personal SHS exposure over the last 3 months, and may represent exposures occurring outside the home. Hair nicotine concentrations can vary depending on the amount of time spent in the home when a smoker is present; time spent around smokers outside the home; absorption of nicotine from surfaces (so-called third-hand tobacco exposure); the race of the participant; and the presence or absence of hair treatments (38,39). In our study we chose a comprehensive assessment of potential exposure to SHS that included self-reporting; airborne nicotine concentrations in the home; and a biomarker of exposure (hair nicotine).…”

Detection of Secondhand Cigarette Smoke via Nicotine Using Conductive Polymer Films

“…This is a leap forward in SHS exposure detection technology as detection of any level of ambient nicotine is specific to tobacco smoke having been present within that space. Previous research has demonstrated that exposure to ambient nicotine is correlated with exposure to the harmful components of tobacco smoke (see Apelberg, 2012 for review). The sensor/chip assembly is particularly innovative, in that it does not require any disassembly of the device or transport to a laboratory for subsequent analysis; the sensor needs only to be linked to a computer to retrieve the data and computationally interpret the normalized relative changes in resistance as nicotine exposure in ppb.…”

“…Therefore, a detectable level indicates exposure but is difficult to quantify that exposure with precision, and it is impossible to detect where or when that exposure occurred within the preceding several days. In-home room-level testing for tobacco smoke exposure has been conducted using passive or active air sampling procedures; however, the devices involved tend to be costly (e.g., particulate matter pumps with a cost of ~$3000 per unit) or require sending samples to a chemistry lab for assay of tobacco-specific components via gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (Apelberg et al, 2012). Unfortunately, particulate matter detection may also be affected by other sources including cooking with solid fuels, burning candles or incense, or outdoor air pollution (Fernandez et al, 2009;Klepeis, Ott, & Switzer, 2007;Lopez et al, 2012).…”

“…Unfortunately, particulate matter detection may also be affected by other sources including cooking with solid fuels, burning candles or incense, or outdoor air pollution (Fernandez et al, 2009;Klepeis, Ott, & Switzer, 2007;Lopez et al, 2012). Monitoring of a tobacco-specific vapor such as nicotine currently suffers from the lack of a real-time measurement (Apelberg et al, 2012); ambient nicotine measurements are typically averaged over a prolonged sampling period of days to weeks given low effective sampling rates (Hammond & Leaderer, 1987). Thus, methods for detecting "how well" a smoker is protecting his/her family are highly problematic.…”