The impact of clean indoor air exemptions and preemption policies on the prevalence of a tobacco-specific lung carcinogen among nonsmoking bar and restaurant workers.
OBJECTIVE
We studied the impact of clean indoor air law exemptions and preemption policies on the prevalence of a tobacco-specific lung carcinogen-4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK)--among nonsmoking bar and restaurant workers.


METHODS
secondhand smoke were compared with results from participants who were exposed to it.


RESULTS
Participants exposed to workplace secondhand smoke were more likely to have any detectable level of NNAL (P=.005) and higher mean levels of NNAL (P < .001) compared with nonexposed participants. Increased levels of NNAL were also associated with hours of a single workplace exposure (P=.005).


CONCLUSIONS
Nonsmoking employees left unprotected from workplace secondhand smoke exposure had elevated levels of a tobacco-specific carcinogen in their bodies. All workers--including bar and restaurant workers--should be protected from indoor workplace exposure to cancer-causing secondhand smoke.
Stark
Michael J
MJ
Program Design and Evaluation Services, Multnomah County Health Department and the Oregon Department of Human Services, Portland, OR 97232, USA. mike.j.stark@state.or.us
Rohde
Kristen
K
Maher
Julie E
JE
Pizacani
Barbara A
BA
Dent
Clyde W
CW
Bard
Ronda
R
Carmella
Steven G
SG
Benoit
Adam R
AR
Thomson
Nicole M
NM
Hecht
Stephen S
SS
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000652:urine; D002273:Carcinogens / Q000032:analysis*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009602:Nitrosamines / Q000652:urine*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009922:Oregon; D011640:Public Policy; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012147:Restaurants / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D012306:Risk; D013997:Time Factors; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000517:prevention & control*
D015415:Biomarkers; D002273:Carcinogens; D009602:Nitrosamines; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution; C016583:4-(N-methyl-N-nitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone