Search

Electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) use emits potentially hazardous compounds and deteriorates indoor air quality. Home is a place where e-cigarettes may frequently be used amid its increasing prohibition in public places. This study assessed the real-life scenario of bystanders' exposure to secondhand e-cigarette aerosol (SHA) at home. A one-week observational study was conducted within the TackSHS project in four countries (Greece, Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom) in 2019 including: 1) homes of e-cigarette users living together with a non-user/non-smoker; and 2) control homes with no smokers nor e-cigarette users. Indoor airborne nicotine, PM2.5, and PM1.0 concentrations were measured as environmental markers of SHA. Biomarkers, including nicotine and its metabolites, tobacco-specific nitrosamines, propanediol, glycerol, and metals were measured in participants' saliva and urine samples. E-cigarette use characteristics, such as e-cigarette refill liquid's nicotine concentration, e-cigarette type, place of e-cigarette use at home, and frequency of ventilation, were also collected. A total of 29 e-cigarette users' homes and 21 control homes were included. The results showed that the concentrations of seven-day airborne nicotine were quantifiable in 21 (72.4 %) out of 29 e-cigarette users' homes; overall, they were quite low (geometric mean: 0.01 μg/m3; 95 % CI: 0.01-0.02 μg/m3) and were all below the limit of quantification in control homes. Concentrations of seven-day PM2.5 and PM1.0 in e-cigarette and control homes were similar. Airborne nicotine and PM concentrations did not differ according to different e-cigarette use characteristics. Non-users residing with e-cigarette users had low but significantly higher levels of cotinine, 3'-OH-cotinine and 1,2-propanediol in saliva, and cobalt in urine than non-users living in control homes. In conclusion, e-cigarette use at home created bystanders' exposure to SHA regardless of the e-cigarette use characteristics. Further studies are warranted to assess the implications of SHA exposure for smoke-free policy. This project has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 681040. BA received the support of a fellowship from “La Caixa” Foundation (ID 100010434; Fellowship code: LCF/BQ/IN17/11620013). The Tobacco Control Research Group at ICO-IDIBELL (BA, EF, MF, OT, MB, YC) is partly supported by the Ministry of Universities and Research, Government of Catalonia (2017SGR319) and thanks CERCA Programme Generalitat de Catalunya for the institutional support to IDIBELL. The work of SG is partially supported by an Investigation Grant from the Foundation AIRC for the Research on Cancer (AIRC IG 2021, ID 25987). The Laboratory of Toxicology University of Granada (FG, PO) is funded by the Spanish National Research Agency and the European Regional Development Fund (FEDER; Project UNGR15-CE-3380). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.

Smoke-free policies are effective in preventing secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure, but their adoption at home remains largely voluntary. This study aimed to quantify SHS exposure in homes with residents who smoke in Europe according to households’ characteristics, tobacco consumption habits, and national contextual factors. Cross-sectional study (March 2017–September 2018) based on measurements of air nicotine inside 162 homes with residents who smoke from nine European countries. We installed passive samplers for seven consecutive days to monitor nicotine concentrations. Through self-administered questionnaires, we collected sociodemographic information and the number of individuals who smoke, smoking rules, frequency, location, and quantity of tobacco use in households. Country-level factors included the overall score in the Tobacco Control Scale 2016, the smoking prevalence, and self-reported SHS exposure prevalence. Nicotine concentrations were analyzed as continuous and dichotomous variables, categorized based on the limit of quantification of 0.02 μg/m3. Overall, median nicotine concentration was 0.85 μg/m3 (interquartile range (IQR):0.15–4.42), and there was nicotine presence in 93% of homes. Participants reported that smoking was not permitted in approximately 20% of households, 40% had two or more residents who smoked, and in 79% residents had smoked inside during the week of sampling. We found higher nicotine concentrations in homes: with smell of tobacco smoke inside (1.45 μg/m3 IQR: 0.32–6.34), where smoking was allowed (1.60 μg/m3 IQR: 0.68–7.63), with two or more residents who smoked (2.42 μg/m3 IQR: 0.58–11.0), with more than 40 cigarettes smoked (2.92 μg/m3 IQR: 0.97–10.61), and where two or more residents smoked inside (4.02 μg/m3 IQR: 1.58–11.74). Household nicotine concentrations were significantly higher in countries with higher national smoking prevalence and self-reported SHS exposure prevalence (p < 0.05). SHS concentrations in homes with individuals who smoke were approximately twenty times higher in homes that allowed smoking compared to those reporting smoke-free household rules. Evidence-based interventions promoting smoke-free homes should be implemented in combination with strengthening other MPOWER measures. This project has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under grant agreement No 681040. The work of SG was partially supported by the Italian League Against Cancer (LILT, Milan). EF is partly supported by Ministry of Universities and Research, Government of Catalonia (2017SGR319) and by the Instituto Carlos III and co-funded by the European Regional Development Fund (FEDER) (INT16/00211 and INT17/00103), Government of Spain.

Objective Due to partial or poorly enforced restrictions secondhand tobacco smoke (SHS) is still present in outdoor hospitality venues in many European countries. This study aimed to assess SHS concentrations in outdoor hospitality venues across Europe and identify contextual exposure determinants. Methods Cross-sectional study. We measured airborne nicotine and evidence of tobacco use in terraces of bars, cafeterias, and pubs from 11 European countries in 2017–2018. Sites were selected considering area-level socioeconomic indicators and half were visited during nighttime. We noted the smell of smoke, presence of smokers, cigarette butts, ashtrays, and number of physical covers. Contextual determinants included national smoke-free policies for the hospitality sector, the Tobacco Control Scale score (2016), and the national smoking prevalence (2017–2018). We computed medians and interquartile ranges (IQR) of nicotine concentrations and used multivariate analyses to characterize the exposure determinants. Results Nicotine was present in 93.6% of the 220 sites explored. Overall concentrations were 0.85 (IQR:0.30–3.74) μg/m3 and increased during nighttime (1.45 IQR:0.65–4.79 μg/m3), in enclosed venues (2.97 IQR:0.80–5.80 μg/m3), in venues with more than two smokers (2.79 IQR:1.03–6.30 μg/m3), in venues in countries with total indoor smoking bans (1.20 IQR:0.47–4.85 μg/m3), and in venues in countries with higher smoking prevalence (1.32 IQR:0.49–5.34 μg/m3). In multivariate analyses, nicotine concentrations were also positively associated with the observed number of cigarette butts. In venues with more than two smokers, SHS levels did not significantly vary with the venues’ degree of enclosure. Conclusions Our results suggest that current restrictions in outdoor hospitality venues across Europe have a limited protective effect and justify the adoption of total smoking bans in outdoor areas of hospitality venues., Highlights • 94% of the outdoor premises had nicotine and in 92% there were people smoking. • All outdoor hospitality terraces where smoking was not allowed had smokers. • When >2 smokers were present, SHS levels did not vary with the venue's enclosure. • SHS exposure increased at night and in countries with higher smoking prevalence. • Our data indicate the need for total smoking bans in outdoor hospitality venues.

The design of e-cigarettes (e-cigs) is constantly evolving and the latest models can aerosolize using high-power sub-ohm resistance and hence may produce specific particle concentrations. The aim of this study was to evaluate the aerosol characteristics generated by two different types of electronic cigarette in real-world conditions, such as a sitting room or a small office, in number of particles (particles/cm

Altres ajuts: Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional (FEDER) Altres ajuts: Italian League Against Cancer (LILT) Introduction: Tobacco presence in outdoor children's playgrounds is concerning not only because it leads to secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure, but also cigarette butt pollution and tobacco normalization. Objectives: This study aimed to assess SHS exposure in children's playgrounds, according to area-level socioeconomic status (SES), smoke-free regulations, national smoking prevalence, and SHS exposure prevalence in playgrounds (2017-2018). Methods: We monitored vapor-phase nicotine concentration and tobacco-related variables in 20 different playgrounds in 11 European countries (n = 220 measurements) from March 2017 to April 2018. Playgrounds were selected according to area-level SES. Data on the number of people smoking, and cigarette butts inside the playground and on playground surroundings (

Atmospheric particulate matter (PM) has multiple adverse effects on human health, high temperatures are also associated with adverse health outcomes, and the frequency of cardiovascular events (CVEs) varies with season. We investigated a hypothesized increase in PM-related accident and emergency (A&amp, E) presentations for CVE with high temperature, warm season, days of high influenza incidence, and in people with a cancer diagnosis, using a time-stratified case-crossover study design. Outcomes were associations of A&amp, E presentation for CVE with atmospheric PM &le, 10 &mu, m (PM10), season, and air temperature. PM10 levels in the municipality of residence (exposure variable) were estimated by modeling data from local monitoring stations. Conditional logistic regression models estimated odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) for presentations in relation to supposed influencers, adjusting for confounders. Study participants were all who presented at the A&amp, E of a large hospital near Milan, Italy, for a CVE (ICD-9: 390&ndash, 459) from 1st January 2014 to 31st December 2015. There were 1349 A&amp, E presentations for CVE in 2014&ndash, 2015 and 5390 control days. Risk of A&amp, E presentation was significantly increased on hot days with OR 1.34 (95%CI 1.05&ndash, 1.71) per 10 &mu, g/m3 PM10 increment (as mean PM10 on day of presentation, and 1 and 2 days before (lags 0&ndash, 2)), and (for lag 0) in autumn (OR 1.23, 95%CI 1.09&ndash, 1.37) and winter (OR 1.18, 95%CI 1.01&ndash, 1.38). Risks were also significantly increased when PM10 was on lag 1, in people with a cancer diagnosis in the spring and summer months (1.88, 95%CI 1.05&ndash, 3.37), and on days (lags 0&ndash, 2) of high influenza incidence (OR 2.34, 95%CI 1.01&ndash, 5.43). PM10 levels exceeded the 50 &mu, g/m3 &ldquo, safe&rdquo, threshold recommended by the WHO and Italian legislation for only 3.8% of days during the warm periods of 2014&ndash, 2015. Greater risk of A&amp, E presentation for CVE in periods of high PM10 and high temperature suggests that &ldquo, thresholds for PM10 should be temperature-dependent and that the adverse effects of PM10 will increase as temperatures increase due to climate change.

Smoke-free legislation reduced second-hand smoke (SHS) exposure in public places, and indirectly promoted private smoke-free settings. Nevertheless, a large proportion of adults is still exposed to SHS at home. The aim of this paper is to quantify the burden of disease due to home SHS exposure among adults in the 28-European Union (EU) countries for year 2017. The burdens by gender from lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), breast cancer, ischemic heart disease (IHD), stroke, asthma, and diabetes were estimated in an original research analysis using the comparative risk assessment method. Relative risks of death/diseases by gender for adults exposed to SHS at home compared to not exposed ones were estimated updating existing meta-analyses. Prevalence of home SHS exposure by gender was estimated using a multiple imputation procedure based on Eurobarometer surveys. Data on mortality and disability adjusted life years (DALYs) were obtained from the Global Burden of Disease, Injuries and Risk Factors Study. In 2017, 526,000 DALYs (0.36% of total DALYs) and 24,000 deaths (0.46% of total deaths) were attributable to home SHS exposure in the 28-EU countries, mainly from COPD and IHD. South-Eastern EU countries showed the highest burden, with proportion of DALYs/deaths attributable to SHS exposure on total higher than 0.50%/0.70%, whereas northern EU-countries showed the lowest burden, with proportions of DALYs/deaths lower than 0.25%/0.34%. The burden from SHS exposure is still significant in EU countries. More could be done to raise awareness of the health risks associated with SHS exposure at home.

The goal of this study was to characterize changes in components and toxicological properties of PM2.5 during the nationwide 2019-Coronavirus (COVID-19) lockdown restrictions in Milan, Italy. Time-integrated PM2.5 filters were collected at a residential site in Milan metropolitan area from April 11th to June 3rd at 2020, encompassing full-lockdown (FL), the followed partial-lockdown (PL2), and full-relaxation (FR) periods of COVID-19 restrictions. The collected filters were analyzed for elemental and organic carbon (EC/OC), water-soluble organic carbon (WSOC), individual organic species (e.g., polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and levoglucosan), and metals. According to online data, nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and benzene (C6H6) levels significantly decreased during the entire COVID-19 period compared to the same time span in 2019, mainly due to the government-backed shutdowns and curtailed road traffic. Similarly, with a few exceptions, surrogates of tailpipe emissions (e.g., traffic-associated PAHs) as well as re-suspended road dust (e.g., Fe, Mn, Cu, Cr, and Ti) were relatively lower during FL and PL2 periods in comparison with year 2019, whereas an increasing trend in mass concentration of mentioned species was observed from FL to PL2 and FR phases due to the gradual lifting of lockdown restrictions. In contrast, comparable concentrations of ambient PM2.5 and black carbon (BC) between lockdown period and the same time span in 2019 were attributed to the interplay between decreased road traffic and elevated domestic biomass burning as a result of adopted stay-home strategies. Finally, the curtailed road traffic during FL and PL2 periods led to ~25% drop in the PM2.5 oxidative potential (measured via 2′,7′-dichlorodihydrofluorescein (DCFH) and dithiothreitol (DTT) assays) with respect to the FR period as well as the same time span in 2019. The results of this study provide insights into the changes in components and oxidative potential of PM2.5 in the absence of road traffic during COVID-19 restrictions., Graphical abstract Unlabelled Image, Highlights • Chemical and toxicological characteristics of PM2.5 were determined during COVID-19 pandemic in the Milan metropolitan area. • Ambient levels of NO2, C6H6, OC, and redox-active metals decreased during COVID-19 period. • PM2.5 and BC did not undergo significant changes in COVID-19 lockdown due to enhanced residential heating activities. • PM2.5 oxidative potential decreased during the COVID-19 lockdown as a result of curtailed traffic.

Although smoking restrictions at child-related settings are progressively being adopted, school outdoor entrances are neglected in most smoke-free policies across Europe.To describe secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure and tobacco-related signs in outdoor entrances of primary schools in Europe according to area-level socioeconomic status (SES), smoke-free policy, national smoking prevalence, and geographical region.In this cross-sectional study we monitored vapor-phase nicotine concentrations at 220 school outdoor entrances in 11 European countries (March 2017-October 2018). To account for nicotine presence, we used the laboratory's limit of quantification of 0.06 μg/mThere were detectable levels of nicotine in 45.9% of the outdoor entrances, in 29.1% smell of smoke, in 43.2% people smoking, in 75.0% discarded butts, and in 14.6% ashtrays. Median nicotine concentration was below the laboratory's limit of quantification0.06 μg/mSmoking at school outdoor entrances is a source of SHS exposure in Europe. These findings support the extension of smoking bans with a clear perimeter to the outdoor entrances of schools.

Our aim was to provide a systematic review of studies on the burden of disease due to second-hand smoke (SHS) exposure, reviewing methods, exposure assessment, diseases causally linked to SHS, health outcomes, and estimates available to date. A literature review of studies on the burden of disease from SHS exposure, available in PubMed and SCOPUS, published 2007–2018 in English language, was carried out following the PRISMA recommendations. Overall, 588 studies were first identified, and 94 were eligible. Seventy-two studies were included in the systematic review. Most of them were based on the comparative risk assessment approach, assessing SHS exposure using mainly surveys on exposure at home/workplaces. Diseases more frequently studied were: lung cancer, ischemic heart disease, stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma and breast cancer in adults; lower respiratory tract infection, otitis media, asthma, sudden infant death syndrome and low birth weight in children. The SHS exposure assessment and the reported population attributable fractions (PAF) were largely heterogeneous. As an example, the PAF from lung cancer varied between 0.6% and 20.5%. Moreover, PAF were estimated applying relative risks and SHS exposures with no consistent definitions or with different age classes. The research gap on the SHS exposure burden is shrinking. However, estimates are not yet available for a number of countries, particularly the Middle Eastern and African countries, and not all diseases with the strongest evidence of causation, such as sudden infant death syndrome, have been explored. Moreover, in some cases the applied methodology revealed relatively low quality of data. info:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersion

In this study, the temporal variations of sources of black carbon (BC) concentrations were evaluated in the metropolitan area of Milan, Italy, during three distinct seasons over 2017–2018. We measured BC concentrations using Aethalometers at two sampling sites, one in the city center of Milan, and one in the less densely populated suburb of Bareggio, approximately 14 km to the west of Milan's urban center. PM samples were also collected for elemental carbon (EC) and 14C analyses. The Aethalometer model was used to apportion BC concentrations to the fossil fuel combustion (BCff) and biomass burning (BCbb) originated BC. Additionally, radiocarbon 14C analysis was performed on the PM samples, allowing us to refine our estimates of the contributions of both BCff and BCbb to total BC concentrations and assess the dependence of the mass absorption cross section (MAC) of BC on its source. Overall, our results indicated that the annually averaged BC concentrations were higher at the Bareggio site (2763 ± 1050 ng m−3) than at the Milan site (1921 ± 876 ng m−3). The Aethalometer model results demonstrated that in all of the sampling seasons, fossil-fuel-originated BC (BCff) concentrations were slightly higher in Milan (e.g., a summertime average of 1045 ± 150 ng/m3) than in Bareggio (e.g., a summertime average of 940 ± 89 ng/m3); however, black carbon (BCbb) concentrations from biomass burning were considerably higher at Bareggio (e.g., a wintertime average of 3284 ± 713 ng/m3) than in Milan (e.g., a wintertime average of 1154 ± 103 ng/m3). Diurnal variation plots indicated that both in Milan and Bareggio, BCff peaked during the morning and, to a lesser extent, afternoon traffic rush hours, while BCbb peaked during nighttime when residential wood burning for heating purposes is prominent. Our results also highlight the significant impact of residential wood burning on ambient BC concentrations in the Milan metropolitan area.

The current study examined symptoms of irritation reported by non-smokers passively exposed to e-cigarette aerosols and their timing and association with the concentrations of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) produced.40 healthy non-smoking adults were exposed to e-cigarette aerosols for 30 min in a 35 m20 males and 20 females, with a mean age of 24.6 years (SD = 4.3) and exhaled CO 7 ppm participated. PM concentrations in both experimental sessions were higher than the Control (p 0.001). The most commonly reported symptoms were burning, dryness, sore throat, cough, breathlessness and headache. During both experimental sessions, ocular, nasal, throat-respiratory symptoms and general complaints increased significantly (p 0.05). Ocular and nasal symptoms returned to baseline by tA 30-min exposure to SHA provoked symptoms of sensory irritation and general complaints that lasted up to 30 min after the exposure and were positively associated with the concentrations of the VOC mixture emitted.

In this study, we investigated the impact of biomass burning on the oxidative potential of PM2.5 in the metropolitan area of Milan, Italy. PM2.5 samples were collected on quartz filters during cold (December 2018–February 2019) and warm (May 2019–July 2019) seasons at the Municipality of Bareggio, a small town located approximately 14 km northwest of the Milan city center. The PM2.5 constituents were chemically analyzed, and its corresponding oxidative potential was measured by means of the dithiothreitol (DTT) assay. Total PM2.5 mass concentration was significantly higher in winter (71.82 ± 4.17 μg/m3) compared to summer (16.67 ± 0.27 μg/m3), mainly a result of enhanced biomass burning emissions combined with higher atmospheric stability and lower mixing during the cold season. The enhanced biomass burning activities during the winter period also resulted in very high polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) concentrations (72.81 ± 16.59 ng/m3) which were more than 150-fold higher than the warm period values (0.40 ± 0.07 ng/m3). PAH concentrations were highly correlated with chemical markers of biomass burning (i.e., levoglucosan (R2 = 0.79), and K+/K (R2 = 0.87)) in the winter period. Spearman correlation analysis between DTT and PM2.5 chemical species showed a dominant role of secondary organic aerosols (SOA) and vehicular emissions in summer-time PM2.5 oxidative potential (i.e., the capacity of PM2.5 species to oxidize target molecules), while in the wintertime, the DTT values were highly correlated with chemical markers of biomass burning, vehicular activities, and re-suspended road dust. Multiple linear regression (MLR) analysis identified biomass burning (41%) as the dominant contributor to DTT, followed by SOA (20%), re-suspended road dust (18%), and vehicular emissions (16%). Our results underscore the importance of biomass burning to the overall oxidative potential of PM2.5 in the metropolitan area of Milan, urging the need to promulgate effective mitigation policies targeting these emissions.

Consumption of e-cigarettes has increased significantly in recent years, necessitating further research on the potential health risks/benefits of these devices. Recently, Philip Morris International entered the e-cigarette market with the launch of “iQOS”, a “heat-not-burn” cigarette that has been described as a hybrid between traditional and electronic cigarettes. In a recent study (Saffari et al. 2014, Environ. Sci. Process Impacts, 2259-2267), we presented exposure to particulate metals and organic compounds from e-cigarettes. In this study, we have used a similar approach to further expand our previous analyses by characterizing the iQOS. Black carbon (BC) in addition to particle mass and number concentration were measured using continuous monitors, inside of an office environment during e-cigarette and iQOS consumption sessions. Additionally, particle-bound metals and organic compounds as well as gas-phase aldehydes were quantified using time-integrated chemical analysis methods. Moreover, indoor emission rate of these chemical species were quantified by conducting parallel outdoor measurements followed by development of an indoor mass balance model. Our results indicated a substantial decrease in the emission of metals (with the exception of Ni and Cr), BC and organic compounds in e-cigarettes compared to traditional cigarettes. Analysis of the same species in the iQOS side-stream smoke, however, indicated that while PAHs were mostly non-detected in the iQOS smoke, certain n-alkanes, organic acids were still emitted in substantial levels from iQOS.

The correlation between health effects and exposure to particulate matter (PM) has been of primary concern to public health organizations. An emerging hypothesis is that many of the biological effects derive from the ability of PM to generate reactive oxygen species (ROS) within affected cells. Milan, one of the largest and most polluted urban areas in Europe, is afflicted with high particle levels. To characterize its ambient PM, fine and coarse PM (PM2.5 and PM2.5–10, respectively) samples were collected on a weekly basis for a year-long period. Samples were analyzed for their chemical properties and ROS-activity. A molecular marker chemical mass balance (MM-CMB) model was also applied to apportion primary and secondary sources to fine organic carbon (OC) and PM. Findings revealed that PM2.5 is a major contributor to ambient particle levels in Milan, averaging 34.5 ± 19.4 μg m−3 throughout the year. Specifically, secondary inorganic ions and organic matter were the most dominant fine PM species contributing to 36 ± 7.1% and 34 ± 6.3% of its mass on a yearly-based average, respectively. Highest PM2.5 concentrations occurred during December–February and were mainly attributed to poor atmospheric dispersion. On the other hand, PM2.5–10 exhibited an annual average of 6.79 ± 1.67 μg m−3, with crustal elements prevailing. Source apportionment results showed that wood-smoke and secondary organic aerosol sources contribute to 4.6 ± 2.6% and 9.8 ± 11% of fine OC on a yearly-based average, respectively. The remaining OC is likely associated with petroleum-derived material that is not adequately represented by existing source profiles used in this study. Lastly, ROS-activity measurements indicated that PM2.5-induced redox activity expressed per m3 of air volume is greatest during January (837 μg Zymosan equivalents m−3) and February (920 μg Zymosan equivalents m−3). Conversely, intrinsic (per PM mass) ROS-activity peaked in July (22,587 μg Zymosan equivalents mg−1 PM) and August (25,161 μg Zymosan equivalents mg−1 PM), suggesting the influence of specific components on oxidant properties of PM. A correlation analysis between ROS-activity and select PM chemical components showed that Ni, Cr, Cu and water-soluble OC are strongly associated with ROS.

Traffic restrictions are an unpopular tool to mitigate urban air pollution, and a measurable improvement in air quality is needed to demonstrate the effectiveness of this measure. Previous attempts failed to detect measurable reductions of PM mass pollution within the areas subject to traffic restriction. However black carbon, which is emitted primarily by traffic sources, could be a PM metric more suitable than PM mass to demonstrate pollutant reductions. In this study we report the results of a black carbon monitoring campaign carried out in Milan, Italy, with the aim to detect - and demonstrate more suitably than PM mass - differences in local urban air quality among three zones located very closely with different traffic intensity. The study was carried out in three different days by measuring simultaneously black carbon and PM mass concentrations with fixed monitoring stations located in three main radial roads connecting the outskirts to the city center, each with three segments: 1) an outer one, with no traffic restrictions 2) an intermediate one, subject to the congestion traffic charge called “Ecopass”, where a ticket is required to enter for cars equipped with engines prior to Euro 4 standard; 3) the pedestrian zone (no cars admitted) of Duomo Square in the city center, where each of the three main roads ends. The results demonstrated a sharply declining gradient in black carbon levels from the outer zone, without traffic restrictions, to the more central areas, for all of the three radial main roads. The differences in mean black carbon levels in the same day in the different traffic scheme locations were highly significant for each comparison. In contrast to the Black carbon results, mean PM10, PM2.5, PM1 concentrations did not show significant differences among the different traffic zones on the different campaign days. The ratio of black carbon to PM10 decreased by 47% and 62% in the Ecopass zone and in the pedestrian zone, respectively, as compared to the no-restriction zone. To the best of our knowledge this is the first study showing that within-city proximal areas with different traffic intensity are associated with different black carbon levels. These data suggest that black carbon is a highly relevant metric of traffic pollution and should be taken into consideration in demonstrating the effectiveness of air quality mitigation measures.

Particle count may have advantage over particle mass concentration for assessing the health effects of airborne particulate matter. However, health effects have mainly been investigated with mass-measuring instruments, so it is important to assess relationships between the variability of particle number, as determined by an optical particle counter, and the variability of particle mass as measured by traditional mass-measuring instruments. We used a light scattering particle counter to monitor the concentration of particulate matter in ambient air in a northern Italian city continuously from August 2005 to July 2006. Six channels were calibrated to count particles in the size range 0.3–10 μm and above. Particles under 0.3 μm cannot be detected by the instrument. The particle counter was placed alongside the mass-measuring instruments of the Environmental Protection Agency of the Region of Piemonte (ARPA). Particle numbers were transformed into masses and compared with PM10 and PM2.5 data obtained from the ARPA instruments. Daily average values were compared. The correlation between the two methods was good for both PM10 (R2 = 0.734) and PM2.5 (R2 = 0.856); differences between means were significant only for PM2.5. These findings suggest that a light scattering particle counter might be suitable for assessing particulate matter variability in epidemiological studies on effects of air pollution, though further investigations are necessary.

Background: Indoor smoking in public places and workplaces is forbidden in Italy since 2003, but some health concerns are arising from outdoor secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure for non-smokers. One of the biggest Italian Steel Manufacturer, with several factories in Italy and abroad, the Marcegaglia Group, recently introduced the outdoor smoking ban within the perimeter of all their factories. In order to encourage their smoker employees to quit, the Marcegaglia management decided to set up an educational framework by measuring the PM1, PM2.5 and PM10 emissions from heavy duty trucks and to compare them with the emissions of cigarettes in an indoor controlled environment under the same conditions. Methods: The exhaust pipe of two trucks powered by a diesel engine of about 13.000/14.000 cc3 were connected with a flexible hose to a hole in the window of a container of 36 m3 volume used as field office. The trucks operated idling for 8 min and then, after adequate office ventilation, a smoker smoked a cigarette. Particulate matter emission was thereafter analyzed. Results: Cigarette pollution was much higher than the heavy duty truck one. Mean of the two tests was: PM1 truck 125.0(47.0), cigarettes 231.7(90.9) p = 0.002; PM2.5 truck 250.8(98.7), cigarettes 591.8(306.1) p = 0.006; PM10 truck 255.8(52.4), cigarettes 624.0(321.6) p = 0.002. Conclusions: Our findings may be important for policies that aim reducing outdoor SHS exposure. They may also help smokers to quit tobacco dependence by giving them an educational perspective that rebuts the common alibi that traffic pollution is more dangerous than cigarettes pollution.

Despite limited scientific evidence regarding the potential benefits and health risks of long-term use of electronic nicotine delivery devices (also known as e-cigarettes), these products are being marketed in an increasingly large scale across the globe. Quantification of nicotine, as well as toxic emissions from e-cigarettes and evaluation of the potential health risks posed by long-term exposure to main-stream and side-stream e-cigarette smoke is, therefore, of utmost importance from epidemiological perspective. In this study, concentration of various organic compounds (such as nicotine and PAHs) and redox-active metals (such as Ni and Cr) were measured and rates of side-stream emission of these compounds were also modeled in an indoor environment, to provide quantitative comparative data regarding the exposure to toxic chemicals originating from e-cigarettes and traditional cigarettes. Moreover, measurement of these compounds in the e-cigarette9s liquid suspension, parallel to the side-stream smoke enabled us to track down the fraction of the emissions originating from the liquid suspension versus other components of the e-cigarette device. The analysis indicated a substantial decrease in the emission of organic compounds in e-cigarettes compared to traditional cigarettes. Emissions of toxic metals were, however, comparable among the two cases, with Ni and Cr specifically showing higher emissions from the e-cigarette devices. Further analyses indicated that more than 90% of these metals originate from the device structure (rather than the liquid). Moreover, nicotine measurements indicated that that almost all of the nicotine in side-stream e-cigarette smoke is in the vapor-phase.

Air quality is worse in a pedestrian area frequented by smokers compared with a high-traffic zone http://ow.ly/DMW83007Xmo

Air pollution and cigarette smoke are recognized health risks. A method was developed for the measurement of the deposition fraction (DF) of polydisperse particulate matter (PM) in human airways. Ten normal volunteers [three females, age range 18-67 years, mean age (SD) 43.9 (14)] made single breath exhalations after inhalation to total lung capacity. The exhaled breath was diverted to a multichannel laser diffraction chamber where the particulate profiler measured 0.3 - 1.0-microm particles. DF was inversely related to expiration flow-rate, 0.69 (0.02) at 4 l min-1 and 0.5 (0.01) at 13 l min-1, respectively (p0.05), and was influenced by the inhalation flow-rate [0.70 (0.02) at 3 l min-1 and 0.59 (0.02) at 13 l min-1, respectively (p0.05)], while no differences were found between nasal and oral inhalation (0.68 (0.05) versus 0.67 (0.06), p0.05). Higher breath holding times were associated with elevated DF [0.74 (0.02) at 20 s, and 0.62 (0.05) without breath holding (p0.01)]. When the expiratory flow was controlled and the breath hold time standardized, DF was reproducible (CV = 4.85%). PM can be measured in the exhaled breath and its DF can be quantified using a portable device. These methods may be useful in studies investigating the health effects of air pollution and tobacco smoke.

Background. In the framework of the implementation of a new Limited Traffic Zone (LTZ) scheme for the city center called 'Area C', the Milan Municipality has carried out an air quality monitoring p...

Background. As part of the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) procedure of the General Urban Traffic Plan, the Municipality of Milan introduced Elemental Carbon - basing on the experience wit...

The association between exposure to indoor particulate matter (PM) and damage to cultural assets has been of primary relevance to museum conservators. PM-induced damage to the "Last Supper" painting, one of Leonardo da Vinci's most famous artworks, has been a major concern, given the location of this masterpiece inside a refectory in the city center of Milan, one of Europe's most polluted cities. To assess this risk, a one-year sampling campaign was conducted at indoor and outdoor sites of the painting's location, where time-integrated fine and coarse PM (PM(2.5) and PM(2.5-10)) samples were simultaneously collected. Findings showed that PM(2.5) and PM(2.5-10) concentrations were reduced indoors by 88 and 94% on a yearly average basis, respectively. This large reduction is mainly attributed to the efficacy of the deployed ventilation system in removing particles. Furthermore, PM(2.5) dominated indoor particle levels, with organic matter as the most abundant species. Next, the chemical mass balance model was applied to apportion primary and secondary sources to monthly indoor fine organic carbon (OC) and PM mass. Results revealed that gasoline vehicles, urban soil, and wood-smoke only contributed to an annual average of 11.2 ± 3.7% of OC mass. Tracers for these major sources had minimal infiltration factors. On the other hand, fatty acids and squalane had high indoor-to-outdoor concentration ratios with fatty acids showing a good correlation with indoor OC, implying a common indoor source.

To monitor indoor air quality index in a few Italian hospitality industry venues before and after the implementation of the smoking ban in January 2005.Indoor PM2.5 measurements were carried out in four Milan restaurants during evening hours in the period January-February 2004, and again in January-February 2005, with concurrent outdoor PM2.5 monitoring. The measures were recorded with a portable laser-operated aerosol analyzer with a sampling time of 2 minutes, calibrated by comparison with gravimetric methodPM2.5 ranged between 187+/-52 and 709+/-180 mg/m3, and between 24+/-10 e 141+/-28 mg/m3 (p0.0001) in the years 2004 and 2005, respectively. After the 2005 smoking ban, overall indoor fine particle pollution decreased by values in the range from 81 to 96%.Within the limits of a small sample, the study showed a good compliance with the smoking ban in the hospitality industry which resulted in a remarkable improvement in air quality index. Smoking ban thus appears to achieve the aims of protecting people from exposure to an unwanted dangerous pollutant such as environmental tobacco smoke.

The authors underline the similarities between active and passive smoking under many features, i.e. chemical and physical composition, the kind of health risks, the anti-educational impact on the youth. The special character of passive smoking is also discussed, such as its multiplicative exposure effect on the population, and the hazard to high-risk people like children, pregnant women, and respiratory and cardiovascular patients.

Aim of the study: There are International and National standards that requires hospitals and health premises to be smoke-free. According to recent data from Italy and other European Countries, smoking is a widespread habit in hospitals. To get smoke-free hospitals in an Italian region, we have adopted the European Code for smoke-free hospitals, which sets standards and provides instruments for its implementation. According to the Code, whenever possible, each step towards a smoke-free hospital, should be shared by all staff. As a mean for achieving this goal, in our region the certification of single units as smoke-free units has been chosen. For getting the certification, besides implementing the Code, we planned to use ETS (Environmental Tobacco Smoke) monitoring, as ETS should not be present in hospitals. As a marker of ETS we have chosen Particulate Matter (PM), as it can easily be measured in real-time with a portable instrument and, when other - even outdoor - sources of combustion can be ruled out, it is an accurate detector of cigarette smoke. Here the first experience of measuring PM in hospitals for monitoring ETS and certificating smoke-free health premises, is described. Materials and methods: PM measurements were carried out without any previous notification in different areas of two Network hospitals of the Veneto Region, during a single working day. A real time laser-operated aerosol mass analyser was used. Several classes of PM (PM1, PM2.5, PM7, PM10, TSP Total Suspended Particles) were measured. Results: Outdoor PM levels were found to be repeatedly lower than the annual official limits of 65 mcg/m3 and around the 24 hour official limits of 15 mcg/m3 [15 to 20 mcg/m3, with an overall mean (±SD) of 17.8 (1.9)] throughout the whole day. Very good indoor air quality was found in the operating theaters and isolation department, where PM2.5 concentrations were much lower than outdoor levels [1.6 (0.9) and 5.9 (0.6) mcg/m3, respectively]. No increase in PM pollution was found in the surveyed medical offices, halls and waiting rooms where smoking was positively forbidden [PM2.5 concentrations of 14.8 (2.2) and 12.9 (1.1) mcg/m3] except in a medical office and in two coffee rooms for staff only where high PM levels were recorded [PM2.5 58.7 (29.1), 27.0 (10.6) and 107.1 (47.8) mcg/m3] and an offence of smoking restrictions could be proved. Conclusions: The measurement of PM in hospital for monitoring ETS proved to be both feasible and sensible. PM measurements with a portable instrument can be used both for controlling the compliance with rules or chosen standards and for educating staff about smoking related hazards, thus gaining consensus for the implementation of the tobacco control policy. In our experience, PM measurement can be used as an aid inside all actions designed by the European Code for smoke-free hospitals.

Background: Air pollution is a common alibi used by adolescents taking up smoking and by smokers uncertain about quitting. However, environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) causes fine particulate matter (PM) indoor pollution exceeding outdoor limits, while new engines and fuels have reduced particulate emissions by cars. Data comparing PM emission from ETS and a recently released diesel car are presented. Methods: A 60 m 3 garage was chosen to assess PM emission from three smouldering cigarettes (lit sequentially for 30 minutes) and from a TDCi 2000cc, idling for 30 minutes. Results: Particulate was measured with a portable analyser with readings every two minutes. Background PM 10 , PM 2.5 , and PM 1 levels (mean (SD)) were 15 (1), 13 (0.7), and 7 (0.6) μg/m 3 in the car experiment and 36 (2), 28 (1), and 14 (0.8) μg/m 3 in the ETS experiment, respectively. Mean (SD) PM recorded in the first hour after starting the engine were 44 (9), 31 (5), and 13 (1) μg/m 3 , while mean PM in the first hour after lighting cigarettes were 343 (192), 319 (178), and 168 (92) μg/m 3 for PM 10 , PM 2.5 , and PM 1 , respectively (p Conclusions: ETS is a major source of PM pollution, contributing to indoor PM concentrations up to 10-fold those emitted from an idling ecodiesel engine. Besides its educational usefulness, this knowledge should also be considered from an ecological perspective.

1. Anderson JE, Jorenby DE, Scott WJ, Fiore MC: Treating tobacco use and dependence. An evidence-based clinical practice guideline for tobacco cessation. Chest, 121: 932-941, 2002. 2. Benowitz NL: Pharmacology of nicotine: addiction and therapeutics. Annu Rev Pharmacol Toxicol, 36: 597-613, 1996. 3. The IARC Monograph 83 on involuntary smoking. IARC Monographs 2004, in press. 4. Legge 16/1/2003, n. 3: Disposizioni ordinamentali in materia di pubblica amministrazione. Gazzetta Ufficiale n. 15 del 20 Gennaio 2003 – Suppl Ordinario n. 5. 5. Repace JL, Lowrey AH: Indoor air pollution, tobacco smoke, and public health. Science, 208: 464-472, 1980. 6. Invernizzi G, Ruprecht A, Mazza R, Majno E, Rossetti E, Paredi P, Boffi R: Real-time measurement of indoor particulate matter originating from environmental tobacco smoke: a pilot study. Epidemiol Prev, 26: 30-34, 2002. Tumori, 90: 161, 2004

Short-term measurement of suspended particulate matter has been recently made possible since the release of laser-operating portable instruments. Data of a pilot study of field evaluation of environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) with a portable instrument are reported. We analysed the concentrations of total suspended particle (TSP) and of the fine particles PM10, PM7, PM2.5 and PM1 released indoor from a single cigarette, and their levels inside smoking- and non-smoking-areas of a restaurant. The results indicate that ETS creates high level indoor particulate pollution, with concentrations of PM10 exceeding air quality standards. This kind of field evaluation could allow a more careful assessing of short-term exposure to ETS and its relevance to public health.

To the Editors: Outdoor and indoor air quality is a well known determinant of human health 1. Environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) is a recognised risk factor for respiratory diseases 2 and the most important source of indoor particulate matter (PM) pollution 3. In recent years, several countries have issued smoking policy rules to protect nonsmoking people from ETS with a good compliance 4. This year, the European Respiratory Society (ERS) Congress was held in Copenhagen (Denmark), a country where, like many others, comprehensive anti-smoking rules are not yet fully endorsed 5. In fact, although smoking has been restricted in state-owned governmental premises since 1988, the legislation doesn't apply to the hospitality industry or to workplaces in the private sector. The ERS has made the case of passive smoking one of utmost importance for respiratory prevention 6. Congress participants were advised to refrain from smoking both inside and in front of the Copenhagen Congress venue at the Bella Center, which was indicated by signs stating the following: “Tobacco is the major cause of lung disease. Please refrain from smoking in and …