Estimation of personal exposure to ambient nicotine in daily environment

Summary To evaluate the actual exposure level of nonsmokers to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) in their daily life, the exposure level of ambient nicotine was measured with a nicotine personal monitor carried by a nonsmoker. Average exposure levels of nicotine, even in such smoky places as cars, coffee shops and pubs, were less than 45 g/m³. As a result of all-day monitoring, the highest amount of nicotine inhaled in a day was estimated, in this study, to be up to 310 g, equivalent to actively smoking 0.31 ordinary cigarettes.