Exposure to ultrafine particles in hospitality venues with partial smoking bans

Characteristics of second-hand exposure to aerosols from e-cigarettes: A literature review since 2010

In recent years, the use of electronic vaping products (also named e-cigarettes) has increased due to their appealing flavors and nicotine delivery without the combustion of tobacco. Although the hazardous substances emitted by e-cigarettes are largely found to be much lower than combustible cigarettes, second-hand exposure to e-cigarette aerosols is not completely benign for bystanders. This work reviewed and synthesized findings on the second-hand exposure of aerosols from e-cigarettes and compared the results with those of the combustible cigarettes. In this review, different results were integrated based upon sampling locations such as residences, vehicles, offices, public places, and experimental exposure chambers. In addition, the factors that influence the second-hand exposure levels were identified by objectively reviewing and integrating the impacts of combustible cigarettes and e-cigarettes on the environment. It is a challenge to compare the literature data directly to assess the effect of smoking/vaping on the indoor environment. The room volume, indoor air exchange rate, puffing duration, and puffing numbers should be considered, which are important factors in determining the degree of pollution. Therefore, it is necessary to calculate the "emission rate" to normalize the concentration of pollutants emitted under various experimental conditions and make the results comparable. This review aims to increase the awareness regarding the harmful effects of the second-hand exposure to aerosols coming from the use of cigarettes and e-cigarettes, identify knowledge gaps, and provide a scientific basis for future policy interventions with regard to the regulation of smoking and vaping.

Personal exposure to ultrafine particles in multiple microenvironments among adolescents

BACKGROUND

Experimental studies suggest ultrafine particles (UFPs), the smallest size fraction of particulate matter, may be more toxic than larger particles, however personal sampling studies in children are lacking.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this analysis was to examine individual, housing, and neighborhood characteristics associated with personal UFP concentrations as well as the differences in exposures that occur within varying microenvironments.

METHODS

We measured weekly personal UFP concentrations and GPS coordinates in 117 adolescents ages 13-17 to describe exposures across multiple microenvironments. Individual, home, and neighborhood characteristics were collected by caregiver completed questionnaires.

RESULTS

Participants regularly exposed to secondhand tobacco smoke had significantly higher indoor concentrations of UFPs compared to participants who were not. We observed that the 'home' microenvironment dominated the relative contribution of overall UFP concentrations and sampling time, however, relative proportion of integrated UFP exposure were higher in 'other' environments.

IMPACT STATEMENT

In this study, we employed a novel panel study design, involving real-time measurement of UFP exposure within the multiple microenvironments of adolescents. We found a combination of personal sampling and detailed activity patterns should be used in future studies to accurately describe exposure-behavior relationships.

Physical and psychological stress along with candle fumes induced-cardiopulmonary injury mimicking restaurant kitchen workers

Restaurant kitchens are work areas where involve strict and hierarchal environments that promote opportunity for bullying and workplace aggression and violence. These physical and psychological stress and fumes ultimately trigger severe occupational stress by disrupting the body's homeostasis that might induce cardiopulmonary injury. The study aimed to investigate the physical and psychological stress and candle fumes on cardiopulmonary injury in an animal model mimicking a restaurant kitchen worker. Social disruption stress (SDR) mice were exposed to scented candle fumes (4.5 h/d, 5 d/wk) in an exposure chamber for 8 weeks. Exposure to burning scented candles failed to reduce serum corticosterone level and increased proinflammatory cytokines levels and NF-ƙB activity in the lung. In addition, burning scented candle fumes synergistically increased SDR-induced serum LDH, CPK, CKMB levels, proinflammatory cytokines production as well as NF-ƙB activation in the lung and heart. Further, cardiac HIF-1α and BNP levels were also increased. We conclude that the physical and psychological stress along with candle fumes might induce cardiopulmonary injury in mice. These results could be extrapolated to restaurant kitchen workers.

Outdoor ultrafine particle concentrations in front of fast food restaurants

Ultrafine particles (UFPs) have been associated with negative effects on human health. Emissions from motor vehicles are the principal source of UFPs in urban air. A study in Vancouver suggested that UFP concentrations were related to density of fast food restaurants near the monitoring sites. A previous monitoring campaign could not separate the contribution of restaurants from road traffic. The main goal of this study has been the quantification of fast food restaurants' contribution to outdoor UFP concentrations. A portable particle number counter (DiscMini) has been used to carry out mobile monitoring in a largely pedestrianized area in the city center of Utrecht. A fixed route passing 17 fast food restaurants was followed on 8 days. UFP concentrations in front of the restaurants were 1.61 times higher than in a nearby square without any local sources used as control area and 1.22 times higher compared with all measurements conducted in between the restaurants. Adjustment for other sources such as passing mopeds, smokers or candles did not explain the increase. In conclusion, fast food restaurants result in significant increases in outdoor UFP concentrations in front of the restaurant.