Secondhand smoke exposure within semi-open air cafes and tobacco specific 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanol (NNAL) concentrations among nonsmoking employees

• Authors: Constantine I. Vardavas , Maria Karabela , Israel T. Agaku , Yuko Matsunaga , Antonis Myridakis , Antonis Kouvarakis , Euripides G. Stephanou , Maria Lymperi , Panagiotis K. Behrakis

Abstracts

EN

Objectives: Secondhand smoke (SHS) is a defined occupational hazard. The association though between SHS exposure in semi-open air venues and tobacco specific carcinogen uptake is an area of debate. Material and Methods: A cross sectional survey of 49 semi-open air cafes in Athens, Greece was performed during the summer of 2008, prior to the adoption of the national smoke free legislation. All venues had at least 1 entire wall open to allow for free air exchange. Indoor concentrations of particulate matter smaller than 2.5 microns ($\text{PM}_\text{2.5}$) attributable to SHS were assessed during a work shift, while 1 non-smoking employee responsible for indoor and outdoor table service from each venue provided a post work shift urine sample for analysis of 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanol (NNAL). Results: Post work shift NNAL concentrations were correlated with work shift $\text{PM}_\text{2.5}$ concentrations attributable to SHS (r = 0.376, p = 0.0076). Urinary NNAL concentrations among employees increased by 9.5%, per 10 μg/m³ increase in $\text{PM}_\text{2.5}$ concentrations attributable to SHS after controlling for the time of day and day of week. Conclusions: These results indicate that the commonly proposed practice of maintaining open sliding walls as a means of free air exchange does not lead to the elimination of employee exposure to tobacco specific carcinogens attributable to workplace SHS.

Keywords

EN

PM2.5; occupational exposure; NNAL; second hand smoke; hospitality venue; semi open

• Publisher: Instytut Medycyny Pracy im. prof. dra Jerzego Nofera w Łodzi
• Journal: International Journal of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Health
• Year: 2014
• Volume: 27
• Issue: 5
• Pages: 875-881

Dates

published

2014

Contributors

author

Constantine I. Vardavas

• Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Center for Global Tobacco Control, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
• Smoking and Lung Cancer Research Center, Hellenic Cancer Society, Athens, Greece

author

Maria Karabela

• Smoking and Lung Cancer Research Center, Hellenic Cancer Society, Athens, Greece

author

Israel T. Agaku

• Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Center for Global Tobacco Control, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA

author

Yuko Matsunaga

• Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Center for Global Tobacco Control, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA

author

Antonis Myridakis

• Department of Chemistry, Environmental Chemical Processes Laboratory (ECPL), University of Crete, Crete, Greece

author

Antonis Kouvarakis

• Department of Chemistry, Environmental Chemical Processes Laboratory (ECPL), University of Crete, Crete, Greece

author

Euripides G. Stephanou

• Department of Chemistry, Environmental Chemical Processes Laboratory (ECPL), University of Crete, Crete, Greece

author

Maria Lymperi

• Medical School, University of Athens, Athens, Greece

author

Panagiotis K. Behrakis

• Smoking and Lung Cancer Research Center, Hellenic Cancer Society, Athens, Greece
• Medical School, University of Athens, Athens, Greece
• Department of Environmental Health, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA

Identifiers

DOI

10.2478/s13382-014-0294-4

Biblioteka Nauki

2178907