Carbon monoxide and respiratory symptoms in young adult passive smokers: A pilot study comparing waterpipe to cigarette

Objectives: Studies have correlated second hand smoke (SHS) with many diseases, especially respiratory effects. The goal of this study was to measure the impact of SHS on the respiratory symptoms and exhaled carbon monoxide. Material and Methods: The study population consisted of 50 young workers in restaurants serving waterpipes, 48 university students who sit frequently in the university cafeteria where cigarette smoking is allowed and 49 university students spending time in places where smoking is not allowed. Subjects completed questionnaires on socio-demographic characteristics, respiratory symptoms and exposure to SHS. Exhaled carbon monoxide levels were measured. ANOVA and Chi-square tests were used when applicable as well as linear and logistic regression analysis. Results: Exposure to cigarette smoke in university (adjusted odds ratio (ORa) = 6.06) and occupational exposure to waterpipe smoke (ORa = 7.08) were predictors of chronic cough. Being married (ORa = 6.40), living near a heavy traffic road (ORa = 9.49) or near a local power generator (ORa = 7.54) appeared responsible for chronic sputum production. Moreover, predictors of chronic allergies were: being male (ORa = 7.81), living near a local power generator (ORa = 5.52) and having a family history of chronic respiratory diseases (ORa = 17.01). Carbon monoxide levels were augmented by the number of weekly hours of occupational exposure to waterpipe smoke (β = 1.46) and the number of daily hours of exposure to cigarette smoke (β = 1.14). Conclusions: In summary, young non-smoker subjects demonstrated more chronic cough and elevated carbon monoxide levels when exposed to SHS while the effect of waterpipe was even more evident

Cigarette and Waterpipe Smoking Decrease Respiratory Quality of Life in Adults: Results from a National Cross-Sectional Study

Background. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is gaining an importance over the world, and its effect on quality of life is better grasped. Our objective was to use the Clinical COPD Questionnaire (CCQ) to describe the respiratory quality of life in the Lebanese population, stressing on differences between smokers and nonsmokers. Methods. Using data from a cross-sectional national study, we checked the construct validity and reliability of the CCQ. Factors and items correlation with postbronchodilator FEV1/FVC were reported, in addition to factors and scale association with COPD and its severity. We then conducted a multiple regression to find predictors of quality of life. Results. The CCQ demonstrated excellent psychometric properties, with adequacy to the sample and high consistency. Smokers had a decreased respiratory quality of life versus nonsmokers, independently of their respiratory disease status and severity. This finding was confirmed in COPD individuals, where several environmental factors, lower education, and cumulative smoking of cigarette and of waterpipe were found to be independent predictors of a lower quality of life, after adjusting for COPD severity. Conclusions. Smoking decreases the respiratory quality of life of Lebanese adults; this issue has to be further emphasized during smoking cessation and patients’ education

Lung cancer correlates in Lebanese adults: A pilot case–control study

Background: Lung cancer is one of the most prevalent types of cancers. However, there are no epidemiological studies concerning lung cancer and its risk factors in Lebanon. This study was carried out to determine the association between lung cancer and its most common risk factors in a sample of the Lebanese population. Methods: A hospital-based case–control study was conducted. Patients were recruited in a tertiary health care center. A questionnaire in Arabic was designed to assess the possible risk factors for lung cancer. Results: For females, cigarette smoking (ORa = 9.76) and using fuel for heating (ORa = 9.12) were found to be the main risk factors for lung cancer; for males, cigarette smoking (ORa = 156.98), living near an electricity generator (ORa = 13.26), consuming low quantities of fruits and vegetables (ORa = 10.54) and a family history of cancer (ORa = 8.75) were associated with lung cancer. Waterpipe smoking was significantly correlated with lung cancer in the bivariate analysis. Conclusion: In this pilot study, it was found that in addition to smoking, outdoor and indoor pollution factors were potential risk factors of lung cancer. Additional studies would be necessary to confirm these findings

LOCATING PERFORMANCE MEASUREMENTS IN CONSTRUCTION SECTOR COMPANIES: TO WHERE SHOULD WE GO?

International audienceThe construction industry is claimed to be the most lethal economic sector. Despite efforts to include safety as a relevant indicator, managers are still trying to figure out which organizational buttons they need to push to unleash safety performance. To investigate this problem, we draw from performance measurement lens to develop a systematic literature review aided by VOSviewer and to localize safety performance measurement papers within organizational levels. We have found that safety studies are localized in the individual and micro-organizational levels, lacking a connection with macro-organizational level, and firm’s organizational performance. We then underpin further investigation on this subject to allow better integration of safety into company’s management system and adjacent performance measurements. By doing so we aim to push future studies on this field to conceive safety as a source of organizational performance

Can we break organizational beliefs in the construction sector? Investigating possible paths to Safety Performance Measurements research

International audienceThe construction industry is claimed to be the most lethal economic sector. Despite efforts to include safety as a relevant indicator, managers are still trying to figure out which organizational buttons they need to push to unleash safety performance. To investigate this problem, we draw from performance measurement lens to develop a systematic literature review aided by VOSviewer to localize safety performance measurement papers within organizational levels. We have found that safety studies are localized in the individual and micro-organizational levels, lacking a connection with macro-organizational level, and firm's organizational performance. We then underpin further investigation on this subject to allow better integration of safety into company's management system and adjacent performance measurements. By doing so we aim to push future studies on this field to conceive safety as a source of organizational performance

UNDERSTANDING AND MONITORING ENVIRONMENTAL PERFORMANCE OF INFRASTRUCTURE DESIGN PROJECTS

International audienceThe formalization of environmental issues has gained prominence since the definition of sustainable development by the Brundtland's report. Environmental performance has then been introduced to qualify the “green” contribution of an organization to its surrounding environment. However, its multi-dimensional aspects can be problematic when designing projects and making decisions, especially in the infrastructure sector where industrial activities are the most polluting ones. The aim of the study is to fill the environmental gap and confusion for decision-makers on the understanding of environmental performance, as well as to communicate on it, to define and share a clear vision and targets. A literature review is conducted and confronted with an industrial example in the railway sector to analyze the existing misunderstandings in industries while approaching environmental issues. By proposing and setting a clear framework of environmental performance, this research contributes to the conceptualization of environmental performance. More precisely, it characterizes an environmentally performant design project, in order to consider environmental performance as a driver and catalyzer of value creation

Identification of Perceived Relationships Between Environmental Performance Indicators in Ecodesign Projects: the Case of Rail Infrastructure Projects

Sharing information between stakeholders is a critical success factor for ecodesign projects. This sharing is based on indicators that can be interrelated, i.e., impacting each other. This article focuses on the perception of environmental performance indicators’ relationships during the design phase of projects. It uses a DEMATEL approach combined with a graph-database visualization linking environmental performance indicators. While the DEMATEL approach highlights the critical environmental indicators, the graph-based visualization maps the primary interrelations of these factors and defines the best scale to manage them. The novelty here lies in the complementary use of these two methods to facilitate environmental project monitoring. This research is applied to rail infrastructure projects. The main results insist on land optimization, landscape insertion, carbon footprint, economic benefits, and biodiversity measures as critical factors when designing these projects. The graph-based visualization maps the main oriented links between indicators, allowing managers to identify the gaps between the perceived knowledge and the ground truth, facilitating their project monitoring