Smoking behaviour and second-hand smoke exposure inside vehicles in Uruguay

Background Protection from second-hand smoke (SHS) is one of the fundamental principles of the World Health Organization Framework Convention for Tobacco Control. Scarce data are available on SHS exposure in private areas, such as vehicles. This study aimed to estimate prevalence of smoking inside v...

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Main Authors: Laura Llambi, Mary Barros, Carolina Parodi, Antonella Pippo, Virgnia Nunez, Mercedes Colomar, Fiorella Cavalleri, Alicia Aleman
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: European Publishing 2018-03-01
Series:Tobacco Induced Diseases
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.journalssystem.com/tid/Smoking-behaviour-and-second-hand-smoke-exposure-inside-vehicles-in-Uruguay,83786,0,2.html
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author Laura Llambi
Mary Barros
Carolina Parodi
Antonella Pippo
Virgnia Nunez
Mercedes Colomar
Fiorella Cavalleri
Alicia Aleman
author_facet Laura Llambi
Mary Barros
Carolina Parodi
Antonella Pippo
Virgnia Nunez
Mercedes Colomar
Fiorella Cavalleri
Alicia Aleman
author_sort Laura Llambi
collection DOAJ
description Background Protection from second-hand smoke (SHS) is one of the fundamental principles of the World Health Organization Framework Convention for Tobacco Control. Scarce data are available on SHS exposure in private areas, such as vehicles. This study aimed to estimate prevalence of smoking inside vehicles and assess the consequent levels of exposure. Methods Levels of fine respirable particles with a diameter of 2.5 micrometres or less (PM 2.5 ) were measured in five experimental models in smokers' and non-smokers' vehicles. Prevalence of smoking in vehicles was estimated in two steps: direct observation of vehicles in different socio economic status areas, and further correction for detectability. Results Median PM 2.5 concentration was 181 µg/m3 in “smoking vehicles” and 0 µg/m3 in “non-smoking vehicles” (p˂0.001). The highest concentration reached 2900 µg/m3 in a parked car with driver's window partially open. We observed 10,011 vehicles. In 219 (2.2%; 95% confidence interval, 1.91-2.49) of them, smoking was observed, and in 29.2% of these, another person was exposed to SHS. According to the multiplying factor we constructed, direct observation detected one of six to nine vehicles in which smoking occurred. The observed prevalence of smoking in vehicles (2.2%) could reflect a real prevalence between 12% and 19%. Conclusions Smoking was found to occur in 12% to 19% of vehicles, with involuntary exposure in one of three. Concentration of particular matter in vehicles reached very high levels, similar to those at certain sites in countries with weak tobacco control policies. These facts underscore a need for new public policies to eliminate SHS in vehicles to protect public health.
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spelling doaj.art-c354e14da3cc4a93b5caad0450bb643e2022-12-21T23:13:07ZengEuropean PublishingTobacco Induced Diseases1617-96252018-03-0116110.18332/tid/8378683786Smoking behaviour and second-hand smoke exposure inside vehicles in UruguayLaura Llambi0Mary Barros1Carolina Parodi2Antonella Pippo3Virgnia Nunez4Mercedes Colomar5Fiorella Cavalleri6Alicia Aleman7Universidad de la Republica Uruguay, Unidad de Tabaquismo, Dpto de Medicina, Hospital de Clinicas, Facultad de Medicina, UruguayUniversidad de la Republica Uruguay, Unidad de Tabaquismo, Dpto de Medicina, Hospital de Clinicas, Facultad de Medicina, UruguayUniversidad de la Republica Uruguay, Unidad de Tabaquismo, Dpto de Medicina, Hospital de Clinicas, Facultad de Medicina, UruguayUniversidad de la Republica Uruguay, Unidad de Tabaquismo, Dpto de Medicina, Hospital de Clinicas, Facultad de Medicina, UruguayUniversidad de la Republica Uruguay, Unidad de Tabaquismo, Dpto de Medicina, Hospital de Clinicas, Facultad de Medicina, UruguayClinical Epidemiological Research Unit Montevideo, UruguayUniversidad de la Republica Uruguay, Dpto de Metodos Cuantitativos, UruguayClinical Epidemiological Research Unit Montevideo, UruguayBackground Protection from second-hand smoke (SHS) is one of the fundamental principles of the World Health Organization Framework Convention for Tobacco Control. Scarce data are available on SHS exposure in private areas, such as vehicles. This study aimed to estimate prevalence of smoking inside vehicles and assess the consequent levels of exposure. Methods Levels of fine respirable particles with a diameter of 2.5 micrometres or less (PM 2.5 ) were measured in five experimental models in smokers' and non-smokers' vehicles. Prevalence of smoking in vehicles was estimated in two steps: direct observation of vehicles in different socio economic status areas, and further correction for detectability. Results Median PM 2.5 concentration was 181 µg/m3 in “smoking vehicles” and 0 µg/m3 in “non-smoking vehicles” (p˂0.001). The highest concentration reached 2900 µg/m3 in a parked car with driver's window partially open. We observed 10,011 vehicles. In 219 (2.2%; 95% confidence interval, 1.91-2.49) of them, smoking was observed, and in 29.2% of these, another person was exposed to SHS. According to the multiplying factor we constructed, direct observation detected one of six to nine vehicles in which smoking occurred. The observed prevalence of smoking in vehicles (2.2%) could reflect a real prevalence between 12% and 19%. Conclusions Smoking was found to occur in 12% to 19% of vehicles, with involuntary exposure in one of three. Concentration of particular matter in vehicles reached very high levels, similar to those at certain sites in countries with weak tobacco control policies. These facts underscore a need for new public policies to eliminate SHS in vehicles to protect public health.http://www.journalssystem.com/tid/Smoking-behaviour-and-second-hand-smoke-exposure-inside-vehicles-in-Uruguay,83786,0,2.htmlWCTOH
spellingShingle Laura Llambi
Mary Barros
Carolina Parodi
Antonella Pippo
Virgnia Nunez
Mercedes Colomar
Fiorella Cavalleri
Alicia Aleman
Smoking behaviour and second-hand smoke exposure inside vehicles in Uruguay
Tobacco Induced Diseases
WCTOH
title Smoking behaviour and second-hand smoke exposure inside vehicles in Uruguay
title_full Smoking behaviour and second-hand smoke exposure inside vehicles in Uruguay
title_fullStr Smoking behaviour and second-hand smoke exposure inside vehicles in Uruguay
title_full_unstemmed Smoking behaviour and second-hand smoke exposure inside vehicles in Uruguay
title_short Smoking behaviour and second-hand smoke exposure inside vehicles in Uruguay
title_sort smoking behaviour and second hand smoke exposure inside vehicles in uruguay
topic WCTOH
url http://www.journalssystem.com/tid/Smoking-behaviour-and-second-hand-smoke-exposure-inside-vehicles-in-Uruguay,83786,0,2.html
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