OBJECTIVES To assess indoor secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure in restaurants and bars via PM(2.5) level measurements in five cities in China. METHODS The study was conducted from July to September in 2007 in Beijing, Xi'an, Wuhan, Kunming and Guiyang. PM(2.5) concentrations were measured in 404 restaurants and bars using portable aerosol monitors. The occupant density and the active smoker dens...

Lidar is a promising tool for forest-fire monitoring because, due to its very high sensitivity and spatial resolution, this active detection technique enables efficient location of small smoke plumes that originate from forest fires in the early stages of development during both day and night and over a considerable range. Earlier experiments carried out by the authors testify that small fires ...

The association between indoor smoke exposure due to traditional baking (baking homemade bread) and anthracosis has rarely been investigated. The aim of the present study is to quantify such association among the Iranian population. A hospital based case-control study was carried out on 83 anthracotic cases and 155 controls (83 individuals with non-anthracotic pulmonary disorders from the pulmo...

Exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) and active tobacco smoking has been shown to increase symptoms of bronchial asthma such as bronchoconstriction but effects on other respiratory symptoms remain poorly assessed. Current levels of exposure to tobacco smoke may also be responsible for the development of chronic cough in both children and adults. The present study analyses the effects o...

OBJECTIVE To assess the current status of pediatric residency training on tobacco use and smoke exposure. METHODS A nationwide survey of all pediatric residency training directors in the United States was conducted from November 2010 to May 2011 via use of surveymonkey.com. The survey assessed training director characteristics, attitudes and beliefs about pediatricians' role in addressing tob...

Prenatal passive smoke exposure raises risk for negative birth outcomes. Legislation regulating public smoking has been shown to impact exposure levels, though fewer studies involving pregnant women have been conducted within the U.S. where bans are inconsistent across regions. This study examined the effect of a ban enacted in the southeastern U.S. on pregnant women's cotinine levels. Addition...

BACKGROUND Active smoking and passive exposure to environmental tobacco smoke cause respiratory symptoms as well as long-term complications. We know little about the sources of exposure to tobacco smoke in our population and the symptoms that can be related to smoking in adults and children. METHODS A survey on the range of symptoms relevant to smoke exposure was conducted. Residents of Tehra...

Tobacco smoking increases the risk of intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD) and back pain, but the mechanisms underlying the adverse effects of smoking are largely unknown. Current hypotheses predict that smoking contributes to IDD indirectly through nicotine-mediated vasoconstriction which limits the exchange of nutrients between the discs and their surroundings. We alternatively hypothesize ...

Tobacco smoke contains thousands of compounds in addition to nicotine, a known neuroteratogen. We evaluated the developmental neurotoxicity of tobacco smoke extract (TSE) administered to pregnant rats starting preconception and continued through the second postnatal week. We simulated nicotine concentrations encountered with second-hand smoke, an order of magnitude below those seen in active sm...

Cigarette smoking is a major modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD), including coronary artery disease (CAD), heart attacks, stroke, peripheral vascular disease, and congestive heart failure. The hazardous effects of smoking on the cardiovascular system are multiple and synergistic. Mechanisms include mainly vascular endothelial and smooth cell dysfunction, enhanced platelet ag...