Daily exposure to environmental tobacco smoke: Smokers vs nonsmokers in California

Abstract

Objectives. This study examined the differences in environmental tobacco smoke exposure between smokers and non-smokers. Methods. A probability sample of 1579 California adults completed a 1-day time diary of a full day's activities in which they reported whether any smoker was present during each activity. Results. Some 61% of respondents reported at least some environmental tobacco smoke exposure in these diary accounts (for an average of up to 5 hours per day), and potential exposure rose monotonically with number of cigarettes actively smoked. Heaviest smokers reported about four times as much such exposure as nonsmokers. Conclusions. Because smokers lead life-styles that expose them to far higher levels of environmental tobacco smoke exposure, that factor needs to be controlled in studies estimating the effects of active smoking.