Occupational secondhand smoke is the main determinant of hair nicotine concentrations in bar and restaurant workers

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Veronica Iglesias, University of Chile; Marcia Erazo, University of Chile; Andrea Droppelmann, Institute of Public Health Chile; Kyle Steenland, Emory University; Paulina Aceituno, University of Chile; Cecilia Orellana, University of Chile; Marisol Acuna, Emory University; Armando Peruga, Ministry of Health Santiago; Patrick Nolan Breysse, Emory University; Ana Navas-Acien, Johns Hopkins University
• Language: English
• Date: 2014-07-01
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Publication Version: Author Accepted Manuscript (After Peer Review)
• Copyright Statement: © 2014 Elsevier Inc.
• License: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 4.0 International
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2014.03.044
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: Environmental Research
• ISSN: 0013-9351
• Volume: 132
• Start Page: 206
• End Page: 211
• Grant/Funding Information: This study was funded by International Training and Research in Environmental and Occupational Health (ITREOH), Fogarty International Center, NIH Research Grant #D43TW005746-02 and by a Clinical Investigator Award from the Flight Attendant Medical Research Institute.
• Keywords: ENVIRONMENTAL TOBACCO-SMOKE; EXPOSURE; Non-smoking employees; 2ND-HAND SMOKE; CASINO; RESPIRATORY SYMPTOMS; Personal sampler; SANTIAGO; Environmental Sciences; Environmental Sciences & Ecology; Exposure to secondhand tobacco smoke; Public, Environmental & Occupational Health; EMPLOYEES; HEALTH; Science & Technology; HOSPITALITY WORKERS; Life Sciences & Biomedicine; PUBLIC PLACES; Hair nicotine concentration
• Research Categories: Health Sciences, Public Health; Environmental Sciences

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the relative contribution of occupational vs. non-occupational secondhand tobacco smoke exposure to overall hair nicotine concentrations in non-smoking bar and restaurant employees. Method: We recruited 76 non-smoking employees from venues that allowed smoking (n=9), had mixed policies (smoking and non-smoking areas, n=13) or were smoke-free (n=2) between April and August 2008 in Santiago, Chile. Employees used personal air nicotine samplers during working and non-working hours for a 24-h period to assess occupational vs. non-occupational secondhand tobacco smoke exposure and hair nicotine concentrations to assess overall secondhand tobacco smoke exposure. Results: Median hair nicotine concentrations were 1.5ng/mg, interquartile range (IQR) 0.7 to 5.2ng/mg. Time weighted average personal air nicotine concentrations were higher during working hours (median 9.7, IQR 3.3-25.4μg/m3) compared to non-working hours (1.7, 1.0-3.1μg/m3). Hair nicotine concentration was best predicted by personal air nicotine concentration at working hours. After adjustment, a 2-fold increase in personal air nicotine concentration in working hours was associated with a 42% increase in hair nicotine concentration (95% confidence interval 14-70%). Hair nicotine concentration was not associated with personal air nicotine concentration during non-working hours (non-occupational exposure). Conclusions: Personal air nicotine concentration at working hours was the major determinant of hair nicotine concentrations in non-smoking employees from Santiago, Chile. Secondhand tobacco smoke exposure during working hours is a health hazard for hospitality employees working in venues where smoking is allowed.