Dataset Information

The Effect of Floor Height on Secondhand Smoke Transfer in Multiunit Housing.

ABSTRACT: Secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure remains a major public health concern in the United States. Homes have become the primary source of SHS exposure, with elevated risks for residents of multiunit housing. Though this differential risk is well-documented, little is known about whether SHS exposure varies by floor height. The aim of this study was to examine whether SHS accumulates in higher floors of multiunit housing. Using validated passive nicotine sampling monitors, we sampled air nicotine concentrations on multiple floors of 21 high-rise (>15 floors) buildings in New York City. Within the buildings, measurements were collected in three locations: non-smoking individual apartments, hallways and stairwells. Measurements were collected in two winter and two summer waves to account for potential seasonality effects. We analyzed the percent of filters with detectable nicotine and quantified nicotine concentration (µg/m³). Higher floor levels were positively associated with both airborne nicotine measures, with some variation by location and season observed. In winter, the trends were statistically significant in apartments (floors ≤7: 0.022 µg/m³; floors 8-14: 0.026 µg/m³; floors ≥15: 0.029 µg/m³; p = 0.011) and stairwells (floors ≤7: 0.18 µg/m³; floors 8-14: 0.19 µg/m³; floors ≥15: 0.59 µg/m³; p = 0.006). These findings can inform interventions to mitigate the SHS exposure of residents in multiunit housing.

SUBMITTER: Gill E

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8997625 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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The Effect of Floor Height on Secondhand Smoke Transfer in Multiunit Housing.

Gill Emily E Anastasiou Elle E Tovar Albert A Shelley Donna D Rule Ana A Chen Rui R Thorpe Lorna E LE Gordon Terry T

International journal of environmental research and public health 20220323 7

Secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure remains a major public health concern in the United States. Homes have become the primary source of SHS exposure, with elevated risks for residents of multiunit housing. Though this differential risk is well-documented, little is known about whether SHS exposure varies by floor height. The aim of this study was to examine whether SHS accumulates in higher floors of multiunit housing. Using validated passive nicotine sampling monitors, we sampled air nicotine conce ...[more]

PMID: 35409478

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Project description:IntroductionToxic tobacco smoke residue, also known as thirdhand smoke (THS), can persist in indoor environments long after tobacco has been smoked. This study examined the effects of different cleaning methods on nicotine in dust and on surfaces.Aims and methodsParticipants had strict indoor home smoking bans and were randomly assigned to: dry/damp cleaning followed by wet cleaning 1 month later (N = 10), wet cleaning followed by dry/damp cleaning (N = 10) 1 month later, and dry/damp and wet cleaning applied the same day (N = 28). Nicotine on surfaces and in dust served as markers of THS and were measured before, immediately after, and 3 months after the cleaning, using liquid chromatography with triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS).ResultsOver a 4-month period prior to cleaning, surface nicotine levels remained unchanged (GeoMean change: -11% to +8%; repeated measures r = .94; p < .001). Used separately, dry/damp and wet cleaning methods showed limited benefits. When applied in combination, however, we observed significantly reduced nicotine on surfaces and in dust. Compared with baseline, GeoMean surface nicotine was 43% lower immediately after (z = -3.73, p < .001) and 53% lower 3 months later (z = -3.96, p < .001). GeoMean dust nicotine loading declined by 60% immediately after (z = -3.55, p < .001) and then increased 3 months later to precleaning levels (z = -1.18, p = .237).ConclusionsCleaning interventions reduced but did not permanently remove nicotine in dust and on surfaces. Cleaning efforts for THS need to address persistent pollutant reservoirs and replenishment of reservoirs from new tobacco smoke intrusion. THS contamination in low-income homes may contribute to health disparities, particularly in children.ImplicationsAdministered sequentially or simultaneously, the tested cleaning protocols reduced nicotine on surfaces by ~50% immediately after and 3 months after the cleaning. Nicotine dust loading was reduced by ~60% immediately after cleaning, but it then rebounded to precleaning levels 3 months later. Cleaning protocols were unable to completely remove THS, and pollutants in dust were replenished from remaining pollutant reservoirs or new secondhand smoke intrusion. To achieve better outcomes, cleaning protocols should be systematically repeated to remove newly accumulated pollutants. New secondhand smoke intrusions need to be prevented, and remaining THS reservoirs should be identified, cleaned, or removed to prevent pollutants from these reservoirs to accumulate in dust and on surfaces.

Project description:ImportanceSecondhand smoke (SHS) exposure is associated with many health conditions in children and adults. Millions of individuals in the US are currently exposed to SHS in their homes.ObjectiveTo investigate whether a federal ban on smoking in public housing settings was associated with a decrease in indoor SHS levels in New York City public housing developments 12 months after the policy's implementation.Design, setting, and participantsThis cohort study tracked indoor air quality longitudinally from April 2018 to September 2019 and used difference-in-differences analysis to examine SHS exposure before vs after implementation of the 2018 federal smoke-free housing (SFH) policy in 10 New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) buildings vs 11 matched low-income buildings not subject to the SFH policy (ie, Section 8 buildings).ExposuresFederal SFH policy implementation, beginning July 30, 2018.Main outcomes and measuresComparison of nicotine concentration levels from passive, bisulfate-coated filters before vs 12 months after implementation of the federal SFH policy. Secondary outcomes included changes in particulate matter less than 2.5 μm in diameter, measured with low-cost particle monitors, and counts of cigarette butts in common areas.ResultsAir quality was measured repeatedly in a total of 153 NYCHA and 110 Section 8 nonsmoking households as well as in 91 stairwells and hallways. Before the SFH policy implementation, air nicotine was detectable in 19 of 20 stairwells (95.0%) in NYCHA buildings and 15 of 19 stairwells (78.9%) in Section 8 buildings (P = .19) and in 17 of 19 hallways (89.5%) in NYCHA buildings and 14 of 23 hallways (60.9%) in Section 8 buildings (P = .004). Nicotine was detected less frequently inside nonsmoking apartments overall (26 of 263 [9.9%]) but more frequently in NYCHA apartments (20 of 153 [13.1%]) than in Section 8 apartments (6 of 110 [5.5%]) (P = .04). One year after policy implementation, there was no differential change over time in nicotine concentrations measured in stairwells (DID, 0.03 μg/m3; 95% CI, -0.99 to 1.06 μg/m3) or inside nonsmoking households (DID, -0.04 μg/m3; 95% CI, -0.24 to 0.15 μg/m3). Larger decreases in nicotine concentration were found in NYCHA hallways than in Section 8 hallways (DID, -0.43 μg/m3; 95% CI, -1.26 to 0.40 μg/m3).Conclusions and relevanceThe findings suggest that there was no differential change in SHS in NYCHA buildings 12 months after SFH policy implementation. Additional support may be needed to ensure adherence to SFH policies.

Project description:IntroductionIn 2012, the Boston Housing Authority (BHA) in Massachusetts implemented a smoke-free policy prohibiting smoking within its residences. We sought to characterize BHA resident experiences before and after the smoke-free policy implementation, and compare them to that of nearby residents of the Cambridge Housing Authority, which had no such policy.MethodsWe recruited a convenience sample of nonsmoking residents from the BHA and Cambridge Housing Authority. We measured residents' awareness and support of their local smoking policies before and 9-12 months after the BHA's policy implementation, as well as BHA respondents' attitudes towards the smoke-free policy. We assessed tobacco smoke exposure via saliva cotinine, airborne apartment nicotine, and self-reported number of days smelling smoke in the home. We evaluated predictors of general satisfaction at follow-up using linear regression.ResultsAt follow-up, 91% of BHA respondents knew that smoking was not allowed in apartments and 82% were supportive of such a policy in their building. BHA residents believed enforcement of the smoke-free policy was low. Fifty-one percent of BHA respondents indicated that other residents "never" or "rarely" followed the new smoke-free rule and 41% of respondents were dissatisfied with policy enforcement. Dissatisfaction with enforcement was the strongest predictor of general housing satisfaction, while objective and self-reported measures of tobacco smoke exposure were not predictive of satisfaction. At follow-up, 24% of BHA participants had complained to someone in charge about policy violations.ConclusionsResident support for smoke-free policies is high. However, lack of enforcement of smoke-free policies may cause frustration and resentment among residents, potentially leading to a decrease in housing satisfaction.ImplicationsSmoke-free housing laws are becoming increasingly prevalent, yet little is known about satisfaction and compliance with such policies post-implementation. We evaluated nonsmoking residents' attitudes about smoke-free rules and their satisfaction with enforcement 1 year after the BHA implemented its comprehensive smoke-free policy. We found that while residents were supportive of the policy, they believed enforcement was low, a perception that was associated with a drop in housing satisfaction. Our findings point to a desire for smoke-free housing among public housing residents, and the importance of establishing systems and guidelines to help landlords monitor and enforce these policies effectively.

Project description:Background and objectivesActive smoking is associated with higher risk of various diseases. However, the risk of CKD development in nonsmokers exposed to secondhand smoke is not well elucidated. We aimed to investigate the association between secondhand smoke exposure and the risk of CKD development among never-smokers.Design, setting, participants, & measurementsA total of 131,196 never-smokers with normal kidney function, who participated in the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study from 2001 to 2014, were analyzed. The participants were classified into three groups on the basis of frequency of secondhand smoke exposure, assessed with survey questionnaires; no exposure, <3 days per week, and ≥3 days per week. The association between secondhand smoke and CKD, defined as eGFR<60 ml/min per 1.73 m2, was examined in the cross-sectional analysis. In addition, the risk of incident CKD development was analyzed in a longitudinal cohort of 1948 participants without CKD at baseline, which was a subset of the main cohort.ResultsThe mean age of participants was 53 years, and 75% were women. Prevalent CKD was observed in 231 (1.8%), 64 (1.7%), and 2280 (2.0%) participants in the ≥3 days per week, <3 days per week, and no exposure groups. The odds ratio (OR) of prevalent CKD was significantly higher in the groups exposed to secondhand smoke than the no exposure group (<3 days per week: OR, 1.72; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 1.30 to 2.27; and ≥3 days per week: OR, 1.44; 95% CI, 1.22 to 1.70). During a mean follow-up of 104 months, CKD occurred in 319 (16%) participants. Multivariable Cox analysis revealed that the risk for CKD development was higher in participants exposed to secondhand smoke than the no exposure group (<3 days per week: hazard ratio, 1.59; 95% CI, 0.96 to 2.65; and ≥3 days per week: hazard ratio, 1.66; 95% CI, 1.03 to 2.67).ConclusionsExposure to secondhand smoke was associated with a higher prevalence of CKD as well as development of incident CKD.

Dataset Information

The Effect of Floor Height on Secondhand Smoke Transfer in Multiunit Housing.

Publications

The Effect of Floor Height on Secondhand Smoke Transfer in Multiunit Housing.

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