Exposure to secondhand and thirdhand smoke in private vehicles: Measurements in air and dust samples

Background: This study aimed to estimate airborne nicotine concentrations and nicotine, cotinine, and tobaccospecific nitrosamines (TSNAs) in settled dust from private cars in Spain and the UK. Methods: We measured vapor-phase nicotine concentrations in a convenience sample of 45 private cars from Spain (N = 30) and the UK (N = 15) in 2017-2018. We recruited non-smoking drivers (n = 20), smoking drivers who do not smoke inside the car (n = 15), and smoking drivers who smoke inside (n = 10). Nicotine, cotinine, and three TSNAs (NNK, NNN, NNA) were also measured in settled dust in a random subsample (n = 20). We computed medians and interquartile ranges (IQR) of secondhand smoke (SHS) and thirdhand smoke (THS) compounds according to the drivers' profile. Results: 24-h samples yielded median airborne nicotine concentrations below the limit of quantification (LOQ) (IQR

Smoking Prevalence in Greece

Introduction The current study aimed to investigate the smoking prevalence in Greece using two nationally representative sets of data conducted before and after the implementation of tobacco prevention programs through school-based interventions in Greece since 2009 Material and Methods 4 cross-sectional surveys were used to summarize the prevalence of smoking in Greece using the “Kaparesearch” Surveys and Statistics Company surveys of 2012 (S12) and 2017 (S17) and two surveys from the Hellenic Statistical Authority (HSA) conducted in 2009 (S09) and 2014 (S14). For surveys S12 and S17, 1,066 individuals in 2012 and 2,054 in 2017 >17 years of age, were interviewed by telephone using an electronic questionnaire. Surveys S09 and S14 included a sample of 6,172 and 8,223 individuals, respectively, via in-person interviews. Annual data on legally taxed cigarettes in Greece from 2007 to 2016 were also obtained from the Hellenic Ministry of Economy and Development. Results Smoking prevalence in Greece was 37.9% in S09, 36.7% in S12, 32.5% in S14 and 27.1% in S17. A total of 28.5% reduction of smoking was observed from 2009 to 2017, while those aged 16-24 years exhibited a 33% reduction from 2009 to 2014. The total number of legally taxed cigarettes in Greece showed a parallel trend, with 35.1 billion in 2007 and 17.9 billion in 2016 showing an overall 49% total reduction Conclusions Smoking prevalence in Greece has been steadily declining from 2009 to 2017 and supported by a parallel trend in billions of cigarettes taxed over time. This reduction was especially apparent among youth, which indicates the possible role of implemented school-based intervention programs. Funding This work is supported by a George D. Behrakis Foundation Grant

Passive Exposure To E-cigarette Emissions: Immediate Respiratory Effects

INTRODUCTION The present work examined the effect of passive exposure to electronic-cigarette (e-cigarette) emissions on respiratory mechanics and exhaled inflammatory biomarkers. METHODS A cross-over experimental study was conducted with 40 healthy nonsmokers, 18-35 years old with normal physical examination and spirometry, with body mass index < 30 kg/m(2), who were exposed to e-cigarette emissions produced by a smoker, according to a standardized protocol based on two resistance settings, 0.5 ohm and 1.5 ohm, for e-cigarette use. All participants underwent a 30-minute control (no emissions) and two experimental sessions (0.5 and 1.5 ohm exposure) in a 35 m(3) room. The following Impulse Oscillometry (IOS) parameters were measured at pre and post sessions: impedance, resistance, reactance, resonant frequency (fres), frequency dependence of resistance (fdr=R5-R20), reactance area (AX), and fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO). Differences between pre and post measurements were compared using t-tests and Wilcoxon signed rank tests, while analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used for comparisons between experimental sessions (registered under ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT03102684). RESULTS IOS and FeNO parameters showed no significant changes during the control session. For IOS during the 1.5 ohm exposure session, fres increased significantly from 11.38 Hz at baseline to 12.16 Hz post exposure (p=0.047). FeNO decreased significantly from 24.16 ppb at baseline to 22.35 ppb post exposure in the 0.5 ohm session (p=0.006). CONCLUSIONS A 30-minute passive exposure to e-cigarette emissions revealed immediate alterations in respiratory mechanics and exhaled biomarkers, expressed as increased fres and reduced FeNO

Passive exposure of non-smokers to E-Cigarette aerosols: Sensory irritation, timing and association with volatile organic compounds

Aim The current study examined symptoms of irritation reported by non-smokers passively exposed to e-cigarette aerosols and their timing and association with the concentrations of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) produced. Methods 40 healthy non-smoking adults were exposed to e-cigarette aerosols for 30 min in a 35 m3 room. Second-hand e-cigarette aerosol (SHA) was produced by an experienced e-cigarette user using a standardized topography and two resistance settings (exposure 0.5 Ohm and 1.5 Ohm), in addition to a control session (no emissions). PM2.5 and PM1.0 were continuously measured over the duration of exposure, while Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) were recorded at 0, 15 and 30 min (t0, t15 and t30) of exposure. Each participant completed an irritation questionnaire at t0, t15, t30 of exposure and t60 (30 min post-exposure) on ocular, nasal, throat-respiratory symptoms of irritation and general complaints. Kruskal-Wallis H test for PM comparisons, repeated measures ANOVA for VOCs and Generalized Estimating Equations for symptoms of irritation and association with VOCs were used for statistical analysis. Results 20 males and 20 females, with a mean age of 24.6 years (SD = 4.3) and exhaled CO TackSHS Project Investigators: Esteve Fernández, Yolanda Castellano, Marcela Fu, Beladenta Amalia, Olena Tigova, Maria José López, Xavier Continente, Teresa Arechavala, Silvano Gallus, Alessandra Lugo, Xiaoqiu Liu, Cristina Bosetti, Enrico Davoli, Istituto Doxa, Paolo Colombo, Sean Semple, Rachel O'Donnell, Ruaraidh Dobson, Luke Clancy, Sheila Keogan, Shashsa Li, Elizabeth Breslin, Panagiotis Behrakis, Anna Tzortzi, Constantine Vardavas, Vergina Konstantina Vyzikidou, Stephanie Teloniatis, Gerasimos Bakelas, George Matiampa, Giuseppe Gorini, Giulia Carreras, Barbara Cortini, Elisabetta Chellini, Roberto Boffi, Ario Ruprecht, Cinzia De Marco, Alessandro Borgini, Chiara Veronese, Martina Bertoldi, Andrea Tittarelli, Ángel López Nicolás, Marta Trapero-Bertran, Daniel Celdrán Guerrero, Cornel Radu-Loghin, Dominick Nguyen, Polina Starchenko, Joan B Soriano, Julio Ancochea, Tamara Alonso, María Teresa Pastor, Marta Erro, Ana Roc