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Matt GE, Quintana PJE, Hoh E, Zakarian JM, Dodder NG, Record RA, Hovell MF, Mahabee-Gittens EM, Padilla S, Markman L, Watanabe K, Novotny TE. Persistent tobacco smoke residue in multiunit housing: Legacy of permissive indoor smoking policies and challenges in the implementation of smoking bans. Prev Med Rep 2020; 18:101088. [PMID: 32368436 PMCID: PMC7186560 DOI: 10.1016/j.pmedr.2020.101088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2019] [Revised: 03/13/2020] [Accepted: 03/29/2020] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Secondhand smoke (SHS) is a common indoor pollutant in multiunit housing (MUH). It is also the precursor of thirdhand smoke (THS), the toxic mixture of tobacco smoke residue that accumulates in indoor environments where tobacco has been used. This study examined the levels, distribution, and factors associated with THS pollution in low-income MUH. Interviews were conducted 2016-2018 in a cross-sectional study of N = 220 MUH homes in San Diego, California. Two surface wipe samples were collected per home and analyzed for nicotine, a THS marker, using liquid chromatography-triple quadrupole mass spectrometry. Nicotine was detected in all homes of nonsmokers with indoor smoking bans (Geo Mean = 1.67 µg/m2; 95% CI = [1.23;2.30]) and smokers regardless of an indoor ban (Geo Mean = 4.80 µg/m2; 95% CI = [1.89;12.19]). Approximately 10% of nonsmokers' homes with smoking bans showed nicotine levels higher than the average level in homes of smokers without smoking bans from previous studies (≥30 µg/m2). Housing for seniors, smoking bans on balconies, indoor tobacco use, difficult to reach surfaces, and self-reported African-American race/ethnicity were independently associated with higher THS levels. Individual cases demonstrated that high levels of surface nicotine may persist in nonsmoker homes for years after tobacco use even in the presence of indoor smoking bans. To achieve MUH free of tobacco smoke pollutants, attention must be given to identifying and remediating highly polluted units and to implementing smoking policies that prevent new accumulation of THS. As THS is a form of toxic tobacco product waste, responsibility for preventing and mitigating harmful impacts should include manufacturers, suppliers, and retailers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georg E Matt
- San Diego State University Department of Psychology, San Diego, CA, USA
| | | | - Eunha Hoh
- San Diego State University School of Public Health, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Joy M Zakarian
- San Diego State University Research Foundation, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Nathan G Dodder
- San Diego State University Research Foundation, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Rachael A Record
- San Diego State University School of Communication, San Diego, CA, USA
| | | | - E Melinda Mahabee-Gittens
- Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Samuel Padilla
- San Diego State University Research Foundation, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Laura Markman
- San Diego State University School of Public Health, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Kayo Watanabe
- San Diego State University School of Public Health, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - Thomas E Novotny
- San Diego State University School of Public Health, San Diego, CA, USA
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