Smoke-free laws and secondhand smoke exposure in US non-smoking adults, 1999-2002

Objectives

To investigate the relationship between smoke‐free law coverage and secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure in the United States non‐smoking adult population.

Design

We used data from the 1999–2002 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, a cross‐sectional survey designed to monitor the health and nutritional status of the US population. Serum cotinine levels were available for 5866 non‐smoking adults from 57 survey locations. Each location was categorised into one of three groups indicating extensive, limited, and no coverage by a smoke‐free law.

Main outcome measures

The proportion of adults with SHS exposure, defined as having serum cotinine levels ⩾ 0.05 ng/ml.

Results

Among non‐smoking adults living in counties with extensive smoke‐free law coverage, 12.5% were exposed to SHS, compared with 35.1% with limited coverage, and 45.9% with no law. Adjusting for confounders, men and women residing in counties with extensive coverage had 0.10 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.06 to 0.16) and 0.19 (95% CI 0.11 to 0.34) times the odds of SHS exposure compared to those residing in counties without a smoke‐free law.

Conclusions

These results support the scientific evidence suggesting that smoke‐free laws are an effective strategy for reducing SHS exposure.     

Decline in respiratory symptoms in service workers five months after a public smoking ban

Objective

To evaluate the effect of a total ban on smoking indoors in restaurants and other hospitality business premises in Norway, on respiratory symptoms among workers in the industry.

Methods

Phone interviews with 1525 employees in the hospitality business were conducted immediately before the enacting of the law. In a follow‐up study five months later, 906 of the workers from the baseline sample participated. Questions were asked on demographic variables, passive smoking exposure, personal smoking, attitudes towards the law, and five respiratory symptoms. Change in symptom prevalence was analysed with McNemar''s test and with analysis of variance (ANOVA) for repeated measures.

Results

The prevalence of all five symptoms declined after the ban; for morning cough from 20.6% to 16.2% (p < 0.01); for daytime cough from 23.2% to 20.9%; for phlegm cough from 15.3% to 11.8% (p < 0.05); for dyspnoea from 19.2% to 13.0% (p < 0.01); and for wheezing from 9.0% to 7.8%. ANOVA showed that the largest decline in symptom prevalence was seen among workers who themselves gave up smoking, and subjects with a positive attitude towards the law before it took effect.

Conclusion

A significant decrease in respiratory symptoms among service industry workers was found five months after the enacting of a public smoking ban.     

Tobacco interests or the public interest: 20 years of industry strategies to undermine airline smoking restrictions

Objectives

To understand the evolution of 20 years of tobacco industry strategies to undermine federal restrictions of smoking on aircraft in the United States.

Design

We searched and analysed internal tobacco industry records, public documents, and other related research.

Results

The industry viewed these restrictions as a serious threat to the social acceptability of smoking. Its initial efforts included covert letter‐writing campaigns and lobbying of the airline industry, but with the emergence of proposals to ban smoking, the tobacco companies engaged in ever increasing efforts to forestall further restrictions. Tactics to dominate the public record became especially rigorous. The industry launched an aggressive public relations campaign that began with the promotion of industry sponsored petition drives and public opinion surveys. Results from polling research that produced findings contrary to the industry''s position were suppressed. In order to demonstrate smoker outrage against a ban, later efforts included the sponsorship of smokers'' rights and other front groups. Congressional allies and industry consultants sought to discredit the science underlying proposals to ban smoking and individual tobacco companies conducted their own cabin air quality research. Faced with the potential of a ban on all domestic flights, the industry sought to intimidate an air carrier and a prominent policymaker. Despite the intensification of tactics over time, including mobilisation of an army of lobbyists and Congressional allies, the tobacco industry was ultimately defeated.

Conclusions

Our longitudinal analysis provides insights into how and when the industry changed its plans and provides public health advocates with potential counterstrategies.     

Exposure to secondhand smoke in Germany: air contamination due to smoking in German restaurants, bars, and other venues.

This study quantified exposure to secondhand smoke in German restaurants, bars, and entertainment venues by determining the concentration of respirable suspended particles measuring 2.5 microm or less (PM2.5) in indoor air. The measurements were taken using an inconspicuous device placed on the investigator's table in the venue. The concentration of particulate matter in the indoor air was measured for a minimum of 30 min. A total of 39 restaurants, 20 coffee bars, 12 bars, 9 discothèques, and 20 restaurant cars in trains were visited throughout Germany from September 30 to October 31, 2005. The readings disclosed a median PM2.5 of 260 microg/m3 and an arithmetic mean PM2.5 of 333 microg/m3. Median values were 378 microg/m3 in bars, 131 microg/m3 in cafes, and 173 microg/m3 in restaurants. The highest medians were measured in discothèques and restaurant cars, with values averaging 432 microg/m3 and 525 microg/m3 PM2.5, respectively. This study was the first to show the magnitude and extent of exposure to secondhand smoke on such an extensive scale in Germany. The contaminated air due to smoking is a human carcinogenic and major health hazard, which would be prevented most effectively and completely by implementing a ban on smoking. This study is important for the ongoing national debate in Germany as well as for debates in all countries without smoke-free air legislation, which includes most countries around the world.     

Changes in the thermal,pasting, morphological and structural characteristic of common buckwheat starch after ultrafine milling

The effects of superfine milling treatments on the thermal, pasting, morphological and structural characteristics of common buckwheat starch were studied. The results showed that the superfine milling could change the morphological structure of buckwheat starch granules. Superfine milling treatments decreased the relative crystallinity and destroyed crystal particles of buckwheat starch. The crystallinity of buckwheat starch was 0.00% after 4 h of the ultrafine milling treatment. There is no obvious endothermic melting peak in the buckwheat starch after ultrafine milling treatment. After superfine milling, the light transmittance, swelling power and solubility of buckwheat starch increased, while PV, TV and FV values decreased. Superfine milling could significantly improve the WHC value of buckwheat starch. This study is expected to obtain the modified buckwheat starch with improved properties and provide valuable information for starch modification employing extreme milling, as well as provide the theoretical basis for expanding the application of buckwheat starch.     

Exposure to secondhand smoke and excess lung cancer mortality risk among workers in the "5 B's": bars,bowling alleys,billiard halls,betting establishments,and bingo parlours

Data sources: Using the Medline, Toxline, and Toxnet databases, the internet, and bibliographies of relevant articles, we identified studies that reported measurements of ambient nicotine concentrations in the 5 B's.

Study selection: Studies were included if they reported a mean concentration of ambient nicotine measured in at least one of the 5 B's.

Data extraction: We calculated a weighted average of nicotine concentrations in each of the 5 B's. We then estimated the working lifetime excess lung cancer mortality risk associated with this exposure, as well as with exposure at the upper and lower limits of the range of mean exposures reported in all of the studies in each establishment category.

Data synthesis: Nicotine concentrations in the 5 B's were 2.4 to 18.5 times higher than in offices or residences, and 1.5 to 11.7 times higher than in restaurants. At these exposure levels, estimated working lifetime excess lung cancer mortality risk from secondhand smoke exposure for workers in the 5 B's is between 1.0–4.1/1000, which greatly exceeds the typical de manifestis risk level of 0.3/1000.

Conclusions: Workers in the 5 B's have high levels of occupational exposure to secondhand smoke and must be included in workplace smoking regulations.

     

Seeing,wanting, owning: the relationship between receptivity to tobacco marketing and smoking susceptibility in young people

OBJECTIVE—To assess the effect of the tobacco industry''s marketing practices on adolescents by examining the relationship between their receptivity to these practices and their susceptibility to start smoking.DESIGN—Paper-and-pencil surveys measuring association with other smokers, exposure to tobacco industry marketing strategies, experience with smoking, and resolve not to smoke in the future.SETTING—25 randomly selected classrooms in five middle schools in San Jose, California.SUBJECTS—571 seventh graders with an average age of 13 years and 8 months; 57% were female. Forty-five per cent of the students were Asian, 38% were Hispanic, 12% were white, and 5% were black.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES—Exposure to social influences, receptivity to marketing strategies, susceptibility to start smoking.RESULTS—About 70% of the participants indicated at least moderate receptivity to tobacco marketing materials. Children who are more receptive are also more susceptible to start smoking. In addition to demographics and social influences, receptivity to tobacco marketing materials was found to be strongly associated with susceptibility.CONCLUSIONS—Tobacco companies conduct marketing campaigns that effectively capture teenage attention and stimulate desire for their promotional items. These marketing strategies may function to move young teenagers from non-smoking status toward regular use of tobacco. Our results demonstrate that there is a clear association between tobacco marketing practices and youngsters'' susceptibility to smoke. The findings, along with other research, provide compelling support for regulating the manner in which tobacco products are marketed, to protect young people from the tobacco industry''s strategies to reach them.     

2014~2016年景洪市食品、公共场所 从业人员甲、戊肝调查分析

目的 分析景洪市2014~2016年食品、公共场所从业人员健康体检中甲肝、戊肝的结果, 为食品、公共场所从业人员健康体检工作的可持续发展提供数据支持。方法 对景洪市2014~2016食品、公共场所从业人员健康体检中戊型肝炎、甲型肝炎的检出率进行分析, 采用SPSS17.0进行?2检验。结果 2014~2016年食品、公共场所从业人员健康体检共检15897人, 总合格率99%。景洪市食品、公共场所从业人员甲型肝炎、戊型肝炎总体发病率呈下降趋势。其中, 甲型肝炎男性高发于女性; 戊型肝炎女性高发于男性; 甲型肝炎在公共场所行业高发于食品行业; 戊型肝炎阳性率无差异。结论 本市对于食品、公共场所从业人员的监管力度加强, 能够对感染源形成有效控制。     

Retrospective evaluation of lead contamination in honey from 2005 to present in northeastern Italy and future perspectives in the light of updated legislation

Lead is a naturally occurring element but largely originating from human activities. Food is the major source of exposure to lead for humans and the publication of a scientific opinion from the European Food Safety Authority on the risks to human health related to the presence of lead in foodstuffs, led European Union to establish more restrictive limits for this contaminant in food from 1 January 2016. In particular, a maximum level of 0.10 mg kg^?1 was established for honey. The retrospective evaluation of 995 honey samples analysed since 2005, revealed a progressive reduction in the concentration of lead, with a mean value of 0.045 mg kg^?1 in 2015. Total 1.5% of honeys analysed in 2015 exceeded the maximum lead level and therefore will no longer be marketable. Interested beekeepers should clarify the causes of honey contamination and adopt corrective actions to keep their honey production within the legal levels of lead.     

Exposure to cadmium, lead and mercury in the adult population from Eastern Poland, 1990-2002

The aim was to estimate the adult exposure to cadmium, lead and mercury from daily household diets in Eastern Poland (Lublin city and province). A duplicate diet approach was used to top collect diet samples in 1990, 1993, 1998 and 2002. Cadmium and lead contents were measured by flame atomic absorption and the mercury content was measured by cold vapour atomic absorption spectrometry. The intake of the three elements was calculated using FOOD computer software. The exposure to cadmium taken with daily diets was from 16.4 - 34.5 μg/person/day (27-58% PTWI). The lead exposure was 66.5 - 106 μg/person/day (31-49% PTWI), which posed a smaller risk, and the exposure risk to mercury of 4.08-6.65 μg/person/day (10-16% PTWI) was even lower.     

Combined effects of heat, nisin and acidification on the inactivation of Clostridium sporogenes spores in carrot-alginate particles: from kinetics to process validation

Combined effects of mild temperatures, acidification and nisin on the thermal resistance of Clostridium sporogenes ATCC 11437 spores were assessed. Inoculated carrot-alginate particles were used as a solid-food model for the validation of the spore inactivation during the flow of a solid-liquid food system through the holding tube of an aseptic processing unit. Inactivation kinetics was studied in a water bath with the spores inoculated into carrot-alginate particles and in Sorensen's phosphate buffer. For temperatures of 70-90 degrees C, D-values in the buffer were 24.9-5.7 min, much lower than those evaluated for the particles (115.1-22.2 min). Statistical analyses showed significant synergistic effects of temperature and pH on spore inactivation for both media. Acidification reduced the heat resistance of the spores by reducing the D-values. Nisin was not significantly effective at the lower concentrations (up to 750 IU/g). The combination of 90 degrees C, pH: 4.5 and 500IU/g nisin resulted in a ten-fold decrease of the D-value for spores inoculated in the particles (from 111.1 to 10.6 min). Microbial validation tests were conducted using a pilot-scale aseptic processing unit with a mixture of carrot cubes (10%) and carrier liquid of 2%-carboxymethylcellulose solution (90%). Spore-inoculated carrot-alginate particles (initial counts of 106 CFU/g, obtained after come-up-time pre-heat) with pH 3.5 and 2000 IU/g nisin were processed at 90 degrees C in the aseptic processing unit. Microbial analysis showed no spore survivors in the particles after passing through the holding tube (5.2-6.0 min of residence time). The proposed combination of these hurdles significantly enhanced the spore inactivation rate (D(90)=1.17 min) as compared to that for thermal treatment only (D(90)=19.6 min).     

Extending the duration of the voluntary waiting period from 60 to 88 days in cows that received timed artificial insemination after the Double-Ovsynch protocol affected the reproductive performance,herd exit dynamics,and lactation performance of dairy cows

This experiment evaluated the reproductive performance, herd exit dynamics, and lactation performance of dairy cows managed with a voluntary waiting period (VWP) of 60 or 88 d. Secondary objectives were evaluating VWP effect on cyclicity status, uterine health, systemic inflammation, and body condition score (BCS) before first service. Lactating Holstein cows from 3 commercial farms in New York State cows were blocked by parity group and total milk yield in their previous lactation and then randomly assigned to VWP of 60 (VWP60; n = 1,352) or 88 (VWP88; n = 1,359) days in milk (DIM). All cows received the Double-Ovsynch protocol (GnRH-7 d-PGF_2α-3 d-GnRH-7 d-GnRH-7 d-PGF_2α-56 h-GnRH-16 to 20 h-timed artificial insemination; TAI) for synchronization of ovulation and TAI. For second and greater artificial insemination (AI), cows received AI after detection of estrus or the Ovsynch protocol (GnRH-7 d-PGF_2α-56 h-GnRH-16 to 20 h-TAI) initiated 32 ± 3 d after AI for cows not re-inseminated at detected estrus. Cyclicity status (progesterone concentration), uterine health (vaginal discharge and uterine cytology), BCS, and systemic inflammation (haptoglobin concentration) were evaluated at baseline (33 ± 3 DIM for both treatments), beginning of the Double-Ovsynch protocol, and 10 d before TAI. Effects of treatments were assessed with multivariable statistical methods relevant for each outcome variable. Extending duration of VWP from 60 to 88 DIM increased pregnancies per AI (P/AI) to first service (VWP60 = 41%; VWP88 = 47%). Nonetheless, the greatest benefit of extending VWP on first-service P/AI was for primiparous cows (VWP60 = 46%; VWP88 = 55%), as P/AI did not differ within the multiparous cow group (VWP60 = 36%; VWP88 = 40%). Physiological status more conducive to pregnancy—characterized by improved uterine health, greater BCS, reduced systemic inflammation, and to a lesser extent more time to resume ovarian cyclicity—explained the increment in P/AI to first service. Our data also indicated that despite having greater P/AI to first service, cows with the longer VWP had delayed time to pregnancy during lactation (hazard ratio = 0.72; 95% confidence interval 0.69–0.98) and greater risk of leaving the herd, particularly for multiparous cows (hazard ratio = 1.34; 95% confidence interval 1.23–1.47). This shift in pregnancy timing led to an overall extension of the lactation length (+13 d), which resulted in greater total milk yield per lactation (+491 kg) but not greater milk yield per day of lactation. In conclusion, data from this experiment highlight the importance of considering the complex interactions between reproductive performance, herd exit dynamics, and lactation performance as well as the effects of parity at the time of defining the duration of the VWP for lactating dairy cows.