[Tobacco smoke exposure in public places in Mexico City, Guadalajara and Monterrey].
OBJECTIVE
To quantify environmental tobacco smoke exposure in public places in Mexico to promote policies of 100% smoke-free environments.


METHODS
In hospitals, schools and public offices of Monterrey, Guadalajara and Mexico City 20% of inner areas were monitored. Median nicotine concentrations were estimated by city, type of public space and type of inner area.


RESULTS
Median concentration in areas where nicotine was detected was 0.06 µg/m³ (P₂₅=0.03, P₇₅=0.12 µg/m³). Higher concentrations were found in Mexico City and in public offices. Nicotine was not detected in 75% of monitored areas.


CONCLUSIONS
Monitoring environmental nicotine is a useful tool to evaluate compliance of public places with the smoke-free environments legislation, and could constitute an important source of information to strengthen implementation efforts.
Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública, Cuernavaca, Morelos, México. lreynales@correo.insp.mx
Luz Myriam
LM
Reynales-Shigematsu
Paola Adanari
PA
Ortega-Ceballos
David
D
Gimeno
Tonatiuh
T
Barrientos-Gutiérrez
D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000032:analysis*; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000032:analysis*; D008800:Mexico; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution / Q000032:analysis*; D014504:Urban Health
D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution