Workplace secondhand smoke exposure: a lingering hazard for young adults in California

OBJECTIVE: To examine occupational differences in workplace exposure to secondhand smoke (SHS) among young adults in California. METHODS: Data are taken from the 2014 Bay Area Young Adult Health Survey, a probabilistic multimode cross-sectional household survey of young adults, aged 18–26, in Alameda and San Francisco Counties. Respondents were asked whether they had been exposed to SHS ‘indoors’ or ‘outdoors’ at their workplace in the previous 7 days and also reported their current employment status, industry and occupation. Sociodemographic characteristics and measures of health perception and behaviour were included in the final model. RESULTS: Young adults employed in service (p<0.001), construction and maintenance (p<0.01), and transportation and material moving (p<0.05) sectors were more likely to report workplace SHS exposure while those reporting very good or excellent self-rated health were less likely (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Despite California’s clean indoor air policy, 33% of young adults in the San Francisco Bay Area still reported workplace SHS exposure in the past week, with those in lower income occupations and working in non-office environments experiencing the greatest exposure. Closing the gaps that exempt certain types of workplaces from the Smoke-Free Workplace Act may be especially beneficial for young adults

A comparison of three policy approaches for tobacco retailer reduction

BACKGROUND: The Institute of Medicine recommends that public health agencies restrict the number and regulate the location of tobacco retailers as a means of reducing tobacco use. However, the best policy strategy for tobacco retailer reduction is unknown. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to test the percent reduction in the number and density of tobacco retailers in North Carolina resulting from three policies: (1) prohibiting sales of tobacco products in pharmacies or stores with a pharmacy counter, (2) restricting sales of tobacco products within 1,000 feet of schools, and (3) regulating to 500 feet the minimum allowable distance between tobacco outlets. METHODS: This study uses data from two lists of tobacco retailers gathered in 2012, one at the statewide level, and another “gold standard” three-county list. Retailers near schools were identified using point and parcel boundaries in ArcMap. Python programming language generated a random lottery system to remove retailers within 500 feet of each other. Analyses were conducted in 2014. RESULTS: A minimum allowable distance policy had the single greatest impact and would reduce density by 22.1% at the state level, or 20.8% at the county level (range 16.6% to 27.9%). Both a pharmacy and near-schools ban together would reduce density by 29.3% at the state level, or 29.7% at the county level (range 26.3 to 35.6%). CONCLUSIONS: The implementation of policies restricting tobacco sales in pharmacies, near schools, and/or in close proximity to another tobacco retailer would substantially reduce the number and density of tobacco retail outlets

Obesity, socio-demographic and attitudinal factors associated with sugar-sweetened beverage consumption: Australian evidence

© 2015 Public Health Association of Australia. Objective: To explore factors associated with sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) consumption in Australia. Methods: Pooled data from Western Australian (WA) and South Australian (SA) 2009 and 2012 nutrition monitoring survey series interviews of 2,832 WA and 10,764 SA adults aged 18 to 64 years. Demographic data were collected and independent samples t-test, analysis of variance, multiple logistic regression performed. Results: Obese participants were more likely to consume SSB than healthy weight participants (SA: OR=1.77; 95% CI 1.56-2.02; WA: OR=1.53; 1.05-2.24). SA obese participants consumed more SSB per day (152.0 mL; 140.7-163.5) than healthy weight (80.1 mL; 73.2-88.2; p&lt;0.001) and overweight participants (106.9 mL; 99.0, 114.8; p&lt;0.001). Males were more likely to consume SSB than females (SA: OR 1.80; 1.35-2.40; WA: 1.81; 1.64-2.00). WA participants who didn't think about the healthiness of food (4.55; 2.71-7.64) and bought meals away from home the day prior (1.55; 1.15-2.09) were more likely to consume SSB. SA adults rating their health highest were less likely to consume SSB (0.62; 0.54-0.72). Conclusions: SSB consumers are more likely to be male, have little interest in health, or have purchased a meal away from home. Implications: Increasing awareness of the adverse health effects of consumption may be a first step in curbing SSB intake