Indoor particulate matter and secondhand smoke: simulation of an exposure scenario.
BACKGROUND
To evaluate secondhand smoke (SHS) contribution on indoor Particulate Matter (PM) concentrations due to a single smoked cigarette in a real exposure scenario.


METHODS
Total Suspended Particles (TSP) and sizes ≤10 (PM(10)), ≤4 (PM(4)), ≤2.5 (PM(2.5)), and ≤1 μm (PM(1)) levels were measured before, during and after smoking in an enclosed smoke-free environment. The measurement was stopped 30 minutes after extinguishing the cigarette, to focus the monitoring just on SHS.


RESULTS
PM(1) concentrations dramatically increased during and 30 minutes after smoking (mean values: 21.1, 1544.0 and 279.0 μg/m3 before, during and after, respectively), while the other PM fractions remained almost unchanged.


CONCLUSIONS
This experiment implies that smoking even one cigarette produces important indoor air pollution which may considerably increase individual exposure to ultrafine particles, and, consequently, pose a serious threat to health.
Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy.
C
C
Protano
Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy.
M S
MS
Cattaruzza
Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy.
J F
JF
Osborn
Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy.
M
M
Vitali
D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000032:analysis*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D019570:Inhalation Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D007558:Italy; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000032:analysis*; D013997:Time Factors; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution / Q000032:analysis*
D000393:Air Pollutants; D052638:Particulate Matter; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution