Infant exposure to environmental tobacco smoke: a prevalence study in Australia

OBJECTIVE: To determine: the prevalence of exposure to environmental tobacco smoke among infants aged 0-12 months in two child health care settings; the accuracy of parent report indicators of exposure; and the factors associated with exposure to environmental tobacco smoke. METHOD: Samples of consecutive parents of infants 12 months of age or younger who attended Hunter Region public child health and immunisation clinics were approached to complete a questionnaire and to allow a urine sample to be obtained from their infant during December and January 1998/99. Infant urine samples were analysed for cotinine and information obtained regarding the smoking status of household members, infant exposure to environmental tobacco smoke during the previous three days, and parent and infant characteristics and demographics. RESULTS: 85 (47%) [95% CI 40-54] infants in the combined sample had detectable levels of cotinine. Sensitivity of reported infant exposure of 86% was achieved through the combined measure of parent report of exposure and smoking status of households. The odds of exposure for infants of smoking parents were 14 times that of infants of nonsmokers [CI 5.26-50.0]. CONCLUSIONS: Almost half of the infants in this study had detectable levels of cotinine in their urine. Future interventions targeting infant exposure to environmental tobacco smoke should incorporate quit smoking strategies for both parents and other household members, as well as strategies for changing the pattern of smoking behaviour around infants. IMPLICATIONS: These findings suggest that existing community education strategies and passive smoking public policies are failing to protect this vulnerable population group.     

Science,politics, and ideology in the campaign against environmental tobacco smoke

The issue of environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) and the harms it causes to nonsmoking bystanders has occupied a central place in the rhetoric and strategy of antismoking forces in the United States over the past 3 decades. Beginning in the 1970s, anti-tobacco activists drew on suggestive and incomplete evidence to push for far-reaching prohibitions on smoking in a variety of public settings. Public health professionals and other antismoking activists, although concerned about the potential illness and death that ETS might cause in nonsmokers, also used restrictions on public smoking as a way to erode the social acceptability of cigarettes and thereby reduce smoking prevalence. This strategy was necessitated by the context of American political culture, especially the hostility toward public health interventions that are overtly paternalistic.     

Smoking,stigma and tobacco ‘denormalization’: Further reflections on the use of stigma as a public health tool. A commentary on Social Science & Medicine's Stigma,Prejudice, Discrimination and Health Special Issue (67: 3)

In recent years, addictions policy has stressed the need to counteract stigmatization in order to promote public health. However, as recent observers have noted, through the widespread implementation of tobacco ‘denormalization’ strategies, tobacco control advocates appear to have embraced the use of stigma as an explicit policy tool. In a recent article, Ronald Bayer (2008) argues that the mobilization of stigma may effectively reduce the prevalence of smoking behaviors linked to tobacco-related morbidity and mortality and is therefore not necessarily antithetical to public health goals. This commentary takes up this question of whether stigmatizing smoking may ultimately serve the interests of public health. Through an examination of the unique contours of tobacco control policy, we suggest that stigmatizing smoking will not ultimately help to reduce smoking prevalence amongst disadvantaged smokers – who now represent the majority of tobacco users. Rather, it is likely to exacerbate health-related inequalities by limiting smokers’ access to healthcare and inhibiting smoking cessation efforts in primary care settings.     

Smoking in prisons: the need for effective and acceptable interventions

Tobacco-smoking prevalence has been decreasing in many high-income countries, but not in prison. We provide a summary of recent data on smoking in prison (United States, Australia, and Europe), and discuss examples of implemented policies for responding to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS), their health, humanitarian, and ethical aspects. We gathered data through a systematic literature review, and added the authors' ongoing experience in the implementation of smoking policies outside and inside prisons in Australia and Europe. Detainees' smoking prevalence varies between 64 per cent and 91.8 per cent, and can be more than three times as high as in the general population. Few data are available on the prevalence of smoking in women detainees and staff. Policies vary greatly. Bans may either be 'total' or 'partial' (smoking allowed in cells or designated places). A comprehensive policy strategy to reduce ETS needs a harm minimization philosophy, and should include environmental restrictions, information, and support to detainees and staff for smoking cessation, and health staff training in smoking cessation.     

浙江省卫生机构控烟实施及烟草暴露的现况调查

目的了解浙江省卫生机构的控烟措施实施情况及烟草暴露流行程度,为烟草控制及卫生决策提供依据。方法采用分阶段、按地理位置的随机抽样,对62家卫生机构开展知情人调查和现场观察法,对机构内1275名成年人开展拦截式问卷调查,收集机构的控烟措施及烟草暴露信息。结果医院和其他卫生机构的职工吸烟率分别为11.59%和23.26%。在62家卫生机构中,69.35%开展过无烟单位创建活动,70.97%有禁烟规定,32.26%为职工提供戒烟帮助。拦截调查发现,发现25.18%卫生机构内存在吸烟现象,发现11.06%机构内有工作人员制止吸烟行为。医院和其他卫生机构内的吸烟者是本单位工作人员的分别为41.86%和70.67%。结论浙江省卫生机构存在相当比例的烟草暴露现象,需进一步落实卫生机构控烟措施。     

Smoking is an occupational hazard

BACKGROUND: Even though the prevalence of tobacco smoking has declined in the general population and among white-collar workers, the prevalence of tobacco smoking among blue-collar workers remains unacceptably high. Blue-collar workers experience greater exposure to workplace toxins which can add to, or even multiply, their risk of adverse health effects from tobacco smoking. Among blue-collar workers, workers in the restaurant, bar, and gaming industries are exposed to much higher levels of environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) than are office workers, and are at increased risk of cancer and cardiovascular diseases even if they are non-smokers themselves. METHODS: The literature on health risks, and the disparity between white and blue collar workers in smoking prevalence, and the literature on various tobacco control strategies provide the sources on which this review is based. CONCLUSIONS: Over the past 20 years, the accumulating scientific evidence about smoking as an occupational hazard has prompted the implementation of various educational, economic, and legal tobacco control strategies.     

中国人群2002年吸烟和被动吸烟的现状调查

目的描述2002年中国人群吸烟、戒烟和被动吸烟的流行水平及在不同教育水平、职业和地区的分布特点，判断烟草流行的变化趋势。方法在145个疾病监测点中通过多阶段分层随机抽样，使用调查表人户调查，完成调查16407人，其中有16056人合格记录用于分析。采用总吸烟率、现在吸烟率、吸烟者日平均吸烟量、吸烟花费、戒烟率等指标，根据2002年普查人口进行加权计算。结果男性吸烟率为66．0％，女性吸烟率为3．08％，与1996年结果比较，人群吸烟率下降1．8％，15～24岁人群吸烟率上升，15岁以上吸烟者达到3．5亿人，较1996年增加3000万人。男性吸烟者水平大致相等，女性吸烟的地区差别更明显，东北、华北等地女性吸烟率依然很高。戒烟率增加，从1996年的9．42％上升到现在的11．5％，意味着增加了1000万戒烟者，但不打算戒烟者依然占了绝大多数，达到74％。人均吸烟量基本不变，为14．8支／日，吸烟者平均每日花费2．73元，但不同人群差异很大，最高和最低者相差15倍。被动吸烟暴露并没有大的改善，1996年和2002年两次调查结果几乎相等，人群中被动吸烟暴露水平分别为53％和52％。人们对烟草危害健康的知识增加，但西部地区人们的知识贫乏。60％以上的人支持公共场所禁止吸烟，45％支持禁止烟草广告，但地区差异依然很大。结论中国男性烟草使用的流行水平已经达到高峰，目前处在平台期，还没有明显的下降趋势。有关吸烟有害健康知识的传播还远远不够，特别西部地区人群对控烟措施的理解和支持率均不高，中国人群在短时间内烟草流行率不会明显下降，烟草导致的疾病负担在未来30—50年内将成为现实。     

北京市4861名公务员吸烟与被动吸烟现状调查

目的调查北京市公务员吸烟与被动吸烟现状,探讨适合机关公务员的控烟策略和措施。方法 2008年对北京市49家市直机关在职公务员进行问卷调查。结果北京市被调查公务员的吸烟率为40.5%,其中男性为66.3%,女性为3.8%;70.9%的人每周至少有1天在工作场所被动吸烟,58.2%的人每周在工作场所被动吸烟至少3天及以上;在对吸烟与被动吸烟危害性的认识上,56.9%的被调查者认为吸烟严重危害健康,96.2%的人认为被动吸烟有害健康。大部分被调查对象知晓吸烟、被动吸烟对健康的危害,但对吸烟危害健康的认识并不全面,知道吸烟会导致冠心病、高血压的仅占25.0%。结论在机关单位大力开展创建＂无烟单位＂活动,加大有关烟草危害知识的宣传力度,加强对吸烟行为干预,降低公务员吸烟率。     

Environmental tobacco smoke in hospitality venues in Greece

Background  

Exposure to environmental tobacco smoke is a major threat to public health. Greece, having the highest smoking prevalence in the European Union is seriously affected by passive smoking. The purpose of this study was to measure environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) exposure in the non smoking areas of hospitality venues and offices in Greece and to compare the levels of exposure to levels in the US, UK and Ireland before and after the implementation of a smoking ban.     

The analysis of tobacco consumption in Croatia--are we successfully facing the epidemic?

Tobacco is the largest cause of morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study is to analyse several health and economically related indicators of tobacco consumption: smoking prevalence, standardized death rates (SDRs) from lung cancer and the proportion of GDP spent on tobacco in Croatia and other transitional countries--the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, Hungary, Slovenia, Romania, and Bulgaria. The overall smoking prevalence in Croatia decreased by 5.2% during 1994-2005, more among females (-9.9%) than males (-0.3%). There is no significant difference in the smoking prevalence between Croatia (27.4%) and other countries. However, 33.8% of Croatian males smoked during 2002-2005, more than in Romania and the Czech Republic, and less than in Hungary and Poland. The prevalence of female smoking (21.7%) in Croatia is similar to the female smoking prevalence in Poland, the Czech Republic, and Hungary, but male smoking is predominant in all countries. The proportion of smokers among youth is above 20% and it is the highest in the Czech Republic (29.7%), followed by Hungary (26.7%), Slovenia (24.9%), Croatia (24.1%), and Poland (21.5%). The proportion of smokers among girls is higher than among boys in Slovenia, Hungary, the Czech Republic, and Croatia, contrary to Slovakia, Bulgaria, and Poland where boys smoke slightly more. There is no significant difference between the prevalence of smoking among girls in Croatia and Bulgaria, Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovenia, and Slovakia. According to the SDR from lung cancer in males (70.3/100,000), Croatia is ranked high assuming the 3rd place, after Hungary (99.7) and Poland (72.0). With a SDR of 15.9/100,000 for females, Croatia is ranked slightly better--5th place. Tobacco consumption continues to be a major public health problem in transitional countries. Croatia conducted several campaigns and programmes in the past. However, results reveal that current anti-tobacco strategies are ineffective in reducing the smoking prevalence among men and youth. Men do not smoke less than a decade ago and, despite the observed decline among women, increasing trends are observed among teenage girls. Croatia should apply a comprehensive approach that would include raising awareness of health risks, restriction of smoking in public places, higher taxing, implementing stricter bans on advertising and promotion of tobacco as well as supporting smoking cessation. This last measure is believed to bring about some results in the medium term in targeted population groups, provided that it is supported by all health professionals. Otherwise, we may expect progress at the population level in the field of social stigmatization of smoking and wider intolerance to second-hand smoke. The full impact of smoking on the population health is yet to be seen and in the future it will undoubtedly remain one of the major contributors to the poor public health situation in Croatia.     

The current situation with regard to nicotine addiction in Burkina Faso: tobacco supply and data from the KAB-P survey of young people in Ouagadougou

Smoking is a worldwide phenomenon and many studies have demonstrated that tobacco use is a risk factor for morbidity and mortality. We investigated aspects of the supply of, and demand for, tobacco in Burkina Faso, with a view to helping the public authorities design strategies to combat this phenomenon. We used data on the importation of tobacco and the making of cigarettes in Burkina Faso and carried out a survey of adolescents and young adults (n = 289) with a mean age of 20.9 years. In 1997, Burkina Faso imported 1,905, 214 metric tons of tobacco of all kinds, with a CAF value of 5,808, 905,269 CFA francs. In the survey, 30.7% of those interviewed said that they smoked. These individuals gave various reasons for their use of tobacco including imitating friends (38.6%) and personal liberty (14.1%). These young people were generally aware of the risks of tobacco use, but this did not deter them from smoking. In countries like Burkina Faso, which is faced with many challenges, controlling tobacco advertising and providing ways and means to help young people to stop smoking or to deter them from starting to smoke are of major importance for future public health.     

Decrease in smoking prevalence--Minnesota, 1999-2010

Following the landmark 1998 settlement of the lawsuit, State of Minnesota versus Philip Morris, Inc., et al., Minnesota implemented a series of tobacco control efforts to limit the harm caused by tobacco use. In 2001, quitline services for tobacco users without health insurance coverage for cessation services were introduced and statewide mass media campaigns publicizing them were initiated. In 2005, Minnesota imposed a $0.75 per pack tax on cigarettes, followed in 2009 by a $0.62 per pack increase in federal excise tax, contributing in large part to a more than $2 increase in the average price of cigarettes. In 2007, a comprehensive, statewide smoke-free law was passed. Using surveillance data from the Minnesota Adult Tobacco Survey (MATS) and cigarette pack sales data, this report examines the effects of these tobacco-related public health efforts. Compared with a 15% decline in national adult smoking prevalence since 1999, adult smoking prevalence in Minnesota decreased 27.1%, from 22.1% in 1999 to 16.1% in 2010. During the same period, per capita cigarette sales in Minnesota decreased 40%. In addition, in 2010 compared with 1999, a higher percentage of adults reported that smoking was restricted in their homes (87.2% versus 64.5%), and adults were less likely to report exposure to secondhand smoke (45.6% versus 67.2%). In the past decade, Minnesota has benefited from sustained tobacco control. Future progress in decreasing adult smoking and reducing exposure to secondhand smoke will depend on a concerted effort across the public health community to keep tobacco control a priority.     

Legislation on smoking in enclosed public places in Scotland: how will we evaluate the impact?

BACKGROUND: From 26 March 2006, smoking will be prohibited in wholly and substantially enclosed public places in Scotland, and it will be an offence to permit smoking or to smoke in no-smoking premises. We anticipate that implementation of the smoke-free legislation will result in significant health gains associated with reductions in exposure to both environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) and personal tobacco consumption as well as other social and economic impacts. METHODS: Health Scotland in conjunction with the Information Services Division (ISD) Scotland and the Scottish Executive have developed a comprehensive evaluation strategy to assess the expected short-term, intermediate and long-term outcomes. Using routine health, behavioural and economic data and commissioned research, we will assess the impact of the smoke-free legislation in eight key outcome areas--knowledge and attitudes, ETS exposure, compliance, culture, smoking prevalence and tobacco consumption, tobacco-related morbidity and mortality, economic impacts on the hospitality sector and health inequalities. CONCLUSION: The findings from this evaluation will make a significant contribution to the international understanding of the health effects of exposure to ETS and the broader social, cultural and economic impacts of smoke-free legislation.     

长沙市社区卫生服务中心工作人员吸烟相关情况调查

目的 了解长沙市社区卫生服务中心工作人员吸烟状况及相关认知与态度,为制定控烟政策提供科学依据. 方法 采用分层随机抽样方法抽取长沙市40所社区卫生服务中心的800名工作人员进行吸烟相关的问卷调查.结果 被调查人员吸烟率为54.1％,现在吸烟率为21.3％,被动吸烟率为53.3％.95.1％社区卫生服务中心工作人员反对在医疗机构内吸烟.其对吸烟和被动吸烟导致的呼吸系统疾病认可率在90％以上,对烟草导致的非呼吸系统疾病认可率偏低.仅有32.2％的工作人员经常劝吸烟患者戒烟. 结论 应对社区卫生服务中心工作人员加强控烟知识培训,提高其烟草危害认识及对吸烟患者采取简短戒烟干预的意识,充分发挥其在烟草控制工作中的表率和支持作用.     

Tobacco use among students aged 13-15 years--Philippines, 2000 and 2003

Tobacco use is one of the major preventable causes of premature death and disease in the world. A disproportionate share of the global tobacco burden falls on developing countries, where an estimated 84% of the world's 1.3 billion current smokers live. The Global Youth Tobacco Survey (GYTS), part of the Global Tobacco Surveillance System (GTSS) initiated by the World Health Organization (WHO) and CDC, was developed to monitor youth tobacco use, attitudes about tobacco, and exposure to tobacco smoke, and has been completed by approximately 1.4 million students in 133 countries. A key goal of GTSS is for countries to conduct the GYTS every 4 years. This report presents findings from the GYTS conducted in the Philippines in 2000 and 2003, which revealed substantial declines in the proportions of students aged 13-15 years who currently smoked cigarettes, currently used other tobacco products, were likely to start smoking in the next year, or were exposed to secondhand smoke in public places. The findings also indicated an increase in the proportion of students who supported bans on smoking in public places, had learned about the dangers of tobacco use in school, and had seen antitobacco messages in media and advertising. Public health authorities in the Philippines should evaluate their current tobacco-control programs and enhance or expand them to further reduce youth smoking.     

The consequences of passive smoking: an overview.

Tobacco smoke contains a wide range of toxic vapors and particles that when inhaled are injurious to the smoker himself (active smoking) and to those around him (passive smoking). It is extremely difficult to define precisely the harmful effects of passive smoking on the individual's health because of the problems involved in quantifying the extent of exposure. A number of epidemiological studies indicate that exposure to passive smoking in public places is circumstantially but marginally linked to cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, as well as to benign and malignant pulmonary morbidity. There is an increased risk of cardiovascular and lung diseases among people living with spouses who smoke due to the exposure to tobacco smoke in the home. Passive smoking during pregnancy constitutes a health hazard for mother and fetus alike. Exposure to passive smoking during childhood may predispose the individual to benign and malignant pulmonary morbidity in both childhood and adulthood. For many people the worksite comprises the main exposure source. Many clinical conditions are further aggravated by exposure to a combination of tobacco smoke and industrial chemicals, mineral dust, or other carcinogens (asbestos, cadmium, radon daughters). Tobacco smoke exposure and the resultant morbidity can be reduced by regulations and legislation prohibiting smoking in public places and worksites.     

Is there a relation between school smoking policies and youth cigarette smoking knowledge and behaviors?

To comply with workplace legislation, New Zealand schools are required to have policies regarding tobacco smoking. Many schools also have policies to prevent tobacco use by students, including education programmes, cessation support and punishment for students found smoking. This paper investigated the associations between school policies and the prevalence of students' cigarette smoking. Furthermore, we investigated the association between school policy and students' tobacco purchasing behavior, knowledge of health effects from tobacco use and likelihood of influencing others not to smoke. Data were obtained from a self-report survey administered to 2,658 New Zealand secondary school students and staff from 63 schools selected using a multi-stage sampling procedure. Components of school policy were not significantly associated with smoking outcomes, health knowledge or health behavior, and weakly related to a punishment emphasis and students advising others to not smoke. Similarly, weak associations were found between not advising others to not smoke and policies with a punishment emphasis as well as smoke-free environments. The results suggest that having a school tobacco policy was unrelated to the prevalence of tobacco use among students, tobacco purchasing behavior and knowledge of the negative health effects of tobacco.     

The relevance and prospects of advancing tobacco control in Indonesia

Using published data about consumption, economic aspects, and legislation, this paper analyzes tobacco control in Indonesia, a major consumer and producer of tobacco products. Given its large population and smoking prevalence, Indonesia ranks fifth among countries with the highest tobacco consumption globally. Over 62% of Indonesian adult males smoke regularly, contributing to a growing burden of non-communicable diseases and enormous demands on the health care system. Tobacco control policies, however, have remained low on the political and public health agenda for many years. One reason was the contribution of tobacco to government revenues and employment, particularly in the industrial sector. But tobacco's importance in employment has fallen significantly since the 1970s from 38% of total manufacturing employment compared with 5.6% today. Widespread use of tobacco since the 1970s and the concomitant burden of non-communicable diseases have given rise to a more balanced view of the costs and benefits of tobacco production over the last decade. The first tobacco control regulation passed in 1999, succeeded by amendments in 2000 and 2003. Today, few restrictions exist on tobacco industry conduct, advertising, and promotion in Indonesia. We examine the relevance and prospects of advancing in Indonesia four cost-effective tobacco control strategies: price and tax measures, advertising bans, clean air legislation, and public education. We conclude with several suggestions for action for the public health community.     

无烟医院政策执行的障碍

目的了解无烟医院政策执行的障碍,为发展干预策略提供科学的背景资料。方法联合应用专题小组访谈和个人深入访谈对医务人员进行调查。结果无烟医院政策执行的障碍有:①倾向因素:医务人员吸烟严重,上班时间吸烟常见;医务人员对吸烟和被动吸烟的危害认识不清;对创建无烟医院没有足够的信心;②促成因素:医院执行政策的能力不足;③强化因素:吸烟是个人的生活权利;吸烟受社会风俗的影响;领导不重视控烟;担心劝烟会影响同事关系或医患关系。结论研究结果表明,倾向因素不是阻碍医院执行无烟政策的主要因素,强化和促成因素才是主要障碍。采取综合性的干预措施,营造良好的控烟氛围,促进社区参与,提高医院控烟能力,效果或许更理想。