title: Exposure to second-hand smoke in primary health care centres in Catalonia, Spain (2006).
abstract: The aim of this study was to assess the exposure to second-hand smoke (SHS) in 90 primary health care centres in Catalonia, Spain. We conducted a cross-sectional study between March and October 2006. We measured vapour-phase nicotine as a marker of SHS in main halls, staff rooms, direction areas, and continued care. Sampler devices were exposed for 7 days, and samples were analysed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. We compared the median airborne nicotine concentrations with the non-parametric test for medians by sanitary region, sampled location, affiliation to the Smoke-free Primary Health Care Programme, and urban-rural area. From 300 sampler devices installed, 4 were lost, and detectable levels of nicotine were found in 89 samples (30.0%) in 48 different centres (53.3%). The overall median was 0.01 microg/m(3), with an interquartile range (IQR) of 0.01-0.07 microg/m(3). Median nicotine levels by locations were: reception hall 0.01 microg/m(3) (IQR: 0.01-0.06); staff room 0.01 microg/m(3) (IQR: 0.01-0.08); direction area 0.01 microg/m(3) (IQR: 0.01-0.01); continued care 0.01 microg/m(3) (IQR: 0.01-0.07). Results showed that airborne nicotine levels were very low, with 46.7% of primary health centres being free of SHS.
authors.affiliation: Tobacco Control & Research Unit, Institut Català d'Oncologia (ICO)-IDIBELL, Av. Gran Via de L'Hospitalet, 199-203, E-08907 L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain. mfu@iconcologia.net
authors.forename: Marcela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.forename: Araceli
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Valverde
authors.forename: Guadalupe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ortega
authors.forename: María J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: López
authors.forename: Jose M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Martínez-Sánchez
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Martín
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Martínez
authors.forename: Esteve
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Saltó
authors.forename: Esteve
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fernández
mesh_terms: D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000592:standards*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D006268:Health Facilities / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D019570:Inhalation Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis* / Q000517:prevention & control; D011634:Public Health; D013030:Spain; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis* / Q000517:prevention & control
chemical_list: D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution