Texting with touchscreen and keypad phones - A comparison of thumb kinematics, upper limb muscle activity, exertion, discomfort, and performance

This study aimed to compare thumb kinematics and upper limb muscle activity, and the influence of hand size, when texting on a keypad smartphone and a touchscreen smartphone. Furthermore, the study compared exertion, discomfort, and performance when texting on the two phones. The thumb kinematics were tracked using a 3D motion analysis system and muscle activity was registered in six upper limb muscles using surface electromyography in 19 participants. When texting on the touchscreen phone compared to the keypad phone thumb flexion (p = 0.008) and flexion/extension range of motion were smaller (p = 0.02), the thumb was on average less internally rotated (p = 0.02), and activity (50th and 90th percentile) of the thumb and forearm muscles was lower (p = 0.05). The differences in thumb flexion were found only in the group with shorter hands and the differences in muscle activity was found only in the group with longer hands. These findings suggest there are differences in risks for developing musculoskeletal disorders during smartphone use with different key activation mechanisms and different hand sizes

Infiltration of Secondhand Smoke into Condominiums, Apartments and Other Multi-Unit Dwellings

Abstract The death toll from secondhand tobacco smoke is staggering. Secondhand smoke is responsible for the early deaths of up to 65,000 Americans annually and for every eight smokers who die from smoking, one nonsmoker dies. Secondhand smoke contains more than 4,000 chemicals and 43 carcinogens, including formaldehyde, cyanide, arsenic, carbon monoxide, benzene, and radioactive polonium-210. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency classifies secondhand smoke as a Group A carcinogen, for which there is no safe level of human exposure. As public knowledge about secondhand smoke increases, renters and condominium owners are becoming increasingly concerned about the health threat of secondhand smoke infiltration. This law synopsis makes it clear that landlords, condominium associations, and the like may prohibit smoking in individual units. The author provides solutions for private individuals if secondhand smoke is seeping into their dwellings from neighboring units and outlines enforcement concerns expressed by landlords and the advantages of specifically addressing smoking in the lease. The synopsis also provides specific smoke-free language for use in a lease or in condominium bylaws

Infiltration of Secondhand Smoke into Condominiums, Apartments and Other Multi-Unit Dwellings

Abstract The death toll from secondhand tobacco smoke is staggering. Secondhand smoke is responsible for the early deaths of up to 65,000 Americans annually and for every eight smokers who die from smoking, one nonsmoker dies. Secondhand smoke contains more than 4,000 chemicals and 43 carcinogens, including formaldehyde, cyanide, arsenic, carbon monoxide, benzene, and radioactive polonium-210. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency classifies secondhand smoke as a Group A carcinogen, for which there is no safe level of human exposure. As public knowledge about secondhand smoke increases, renters and condominium owners are becoming increasingly concerned about the health threat of secondhand smoke infiltration. This law synopsis makes it clear that landlords, condominium associations, and the like may prohibit smoking in individual units. The author provides solutions for private individuals if secondhand smoke is seeping into their dwellings from neighboring units and outlines enforcement concerns expressed by landlords and the advantages of specifically addressing smoking in the lease. The synopsis also provides specific smoke-free language for use in a lease or in condominium bylaws