Secondhand tobacco smoke in public places in Latin America, 2002-2003

Navas-Acien, A; Peruga, A; Breysse P.; Zavaleta, A; Blanco-Marquizo, A; Pitarque, R; Acuña M.; Jimenez-Reyes, K; Colombo, VL; Gamarra, G; Stillman, FA; Samet, J

Abstract

Context: The success of measures to restrict smoking in indoor environments and the intensity of enforcement vary among countries around the world. In 2001, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) launched the Smoke-Free Americas Initiative to build capacity to achieve smoke-free environments in Latin America and the Caribbean. Objective: To assess secondhand smoke concentrations in public places in the capital cities of Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, Paraguay, Peru, and Uruguay in conjunction with the Smoke-Free Americas Initiative. Design and Setting: Multicountry assessment of vapor-phase nicotine concentrations using a common protocol in all 7 Latin American countries. A total of 633 sampling devices were placed for 7 to 14 days in 1 hospital, 2 secondary schools, 1 city government building, 1 airport (2 in Argentina), and restaurants and bars in each country. Main Outcome Measure: Concentrations of airborne nicotine. Results: Airborne nicotine was detected in most (94%) of the locations surveyed. By country, Argentina and Uruguay had the highest median concentrations in most environments (eg, in hospitals: 1.33 [interquartile range {IQR}, 0.51-3.12] ?g/m3 and 0.8 [IQR, 0.30-1.69] ?g/m3, respectively). Overall, bars and restaurants had the highest median concentrations (3.65 [IQR, 1.55-5.12] ?g/m3 and 1.24 [IQR, 0.41-2.48] ?g/m3, respectively). Nicotine concentrations were also found in a number of key, sentinel buildings, including 95% (155/163) of hospital samples (in the physicians' and nurses' stations the median was 0.27 [IQR, 0.02-1.94] ?g/m3), schools, government buildings, and/or airports in most countries. Conclusions: The finding of airborne nicotine in critical locations in Latin America provides a basis for enforcing smoke-free initiatives and for strengthening the protection of the public from unwanted exposure to secondhand smoke.

Más información

Título según WOS: Secondhand tobacco smoke in public places in Latin America, 2002-2003
Título según SCOPUS: Secondhand tobacco smoke in public places in Latin America, 2002-2003
Título de la Revista: JAMA-JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION
Volumen: 291
Número: 22
Editorial: AMER MEDICAL ASSOC
Fecha de publicación: 2004
Página de inicio: 2741
Página final: 2745
Idioma: English
URL: http://jama.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?doi=10.1001/jama.291.22.2741
DOI:

10.1001/jama.291.22.2741

Notas: ISI, SCOPUS