Small-Airways Dysfunction in Nonsmokers Chronically Exposed to Tobacco Smoke

Abstract

We evaluated the effect of long-term passive smoking (involuntary inhalation of tobacco smoke by nonsmokers) and long-term voluntary smoking on specific indexes of pulmonary function in 2100 middle-aged subjects. Regardless of sex, nonsmokers chronically exposed to tobacco smoke had a lower forced mid-expiratory flow rate (FEF 25 to 75 per cent) and forced end-expiratory flow rate (FEF 75 to 85 per cent) than nonsmokers not exposed (P less than 0.005). In addition, values in passive smokers were not significantly different from those in light smokers and smokers who did not inhale (P less than 0.005). When we looked at the extent to which smoke exposure is related to graded abnormality, we found that nonsmokers in smoke-free working environments have the highest scores on the spirometric tests; passive smokers, smokers who do not inhale, and light smokers score similarly and significantly lower; and heavy smokers score the lowest (P less than 0.005). We conclude that chronic exposure to tobacco smoke in the work environment is deleterious to the nonsmoker and significantly reduces small-airways function.

Environmental tobacco smoke exposure and pulmonary function among adults in NHANES III: impact on the general population and adults with current asthma.

“…Supporting these deleterious effects of ETS, we found an increase in pulmonary function among 53 bartenders after reduction in workplace ETS exposure during an 8-week period (34). Two other observational studies demonstrated a relation between ETS exposure and decreased forced expiratory flow, midexpiratory phase (FEF 25%-75% ), but not FEV 1 or FVC (35,36). Other investigators have found no consistent relationship between ETS exposure and pulmonary function in adults (37)(38)(39)(40)(41)(42)(43)(44)(45)(46).…”

Indoor Byproduct Levels of Tobacco Smoke: A Critical Review of the Literature

“…The differences between the areas were not noteworthy. For instance, measurements ranged from a 0.7 ppm average difference between smoking and nonsmoking cafeteria rooms (Fischer,et al 32 ) to about 3-5 ppm (White and Froeb 49 and Godin, et al 30 ). Indoor/ outdoor CO value differences were even less and ranged from no difference (Chappell and Parker 37 ) to the extreme of 9.5 ppm (Cuddeback, et al 35 ).…”

Parental smoking and the risk of childhood asthma.

“…"8 White and Froeb found that nonsmokers who were chronically exposed to cigarette smoke in the workplace had levels of pulmonary function similar to that of light smokers and lower than nonsmokers in a smokefree environment. 9 Hirayama found a significantly increased risk of lung cancer for nonsmoking wives of heavy smok-…”