Passive smoke exposure trends and workplace policy in the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) study (1985-2001).
OBJECTIVE
There has been reduced active smoking, decreased societal acceptance for smoking indoors, and changing smoking policy since the mid-1980s. We quantified passive smoke exposure trends and their relationship with workplace policy.


METHODS
We studied 2504 CARDIA participants (Blacks and Whites, 18-30 years old when recruited in 1985-86 from four US cities, reexamination 2, 5, 7, 10, and 15 years later) who never reported current smoking and attended examinations at 10 or 15 years. RESULTS.: In non-smokers with a college degree (n=1581), total passive smoke exposure declined from 16.3 h/week in 1985/86 to 2.3 h/week in 2000/01. Less education tended to be associated with more exposure at all timepoints, for example, in high school or less (n=292) 22.2 h/week in 1985/86 to 8.5 h/week in 2000/01. Those who experienced an increase in the restrictiveness of self-reported workplace smoking policy from 1995/96 to 2000/01 were exposed to almost 3 h per week less passive smoke than those whose workplace policies became less restrictive in this time period.


CONCLUSIONS
The increasing presence of restrictive workplace policies seemed to be a component of the substantial decline in self-reported passive smoke exposure since 1985.
Widome
Rachel
R
The Healthy Youth Development Prevention Research Center, Division of General Pediatrics and Adolescent Health, McNamara Alumni Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455-2002, USA. widome@umn.edu
Jacobs
David R
DR
Schreiner
Pamela J
PJ
Iribarren
Carlos
C
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D001294:Attitude to Health; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006291:Health Policy / Q000639:trends*; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D016272:Occupational Health; D011159:Population Surveillance; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D044465:White People / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017132:Workplace / Q000458:organization & administration*
D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution