Exposure to secondhand aerosol from electronic cigarettes at homes : A real-life study in four European countries
Amalia, Beladenta (Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica de Bellvitge)
Fu, Marcela (Instituto de Salud Carlos III)
Tigova, Olena (Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica de Bellvitge)
Ballbè, Montse (Hospital Clínic i Provincial de Barcelona)
Paniello-Castillo, Blanca (Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica de Bellvitge)
Castellano, Yolanda (Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica de Bellvitge)
Vyzikidou, Vergina Konstantina (Hellenic Cancer Society - George D. Behrakis Research Lab - HCS)
O'Donnell, Rachel (University of Stirling (Escòcia))
Dobson, Ruaraidh (University of Stirling (Escòcia))
Lugo, Alessandra (IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini (Gènova, Itàlia))
Veronese, Chiara (IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori - INT Foundation)
Pérez Ortuño, Raúl (Institut Hospital del Mar d'Investigacions Mèdiques)
Pascual, José A. (Institut Hospital del Mar d'Investigacions Mèdiques)
Cortés, Núria (Agència de Salut Pública de Barcelona)
Gil, Fernando (Universidad de Granada)
Olmedo Palma, Pablo (Universidad de Granada)
Soriano, Joan B. (Hospital Universitario de la Princesa (Madrid))
Boffi, Roberto (IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori - INT Foundation)
Ruprecht, Ario Alberto (IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori - INT Foundation)
Ancochea, Julio (Hospital Universitario de la Princesa (Madrid))
López Medina, María José (Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica Sant Pau)
Gallus, Silvano (IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini (Gènova, Itàlia))
Vardavas, Constantine (Harvard University)
Semple, Sean (University of Stirling (Escòcia))
Fernández, Esteve (Instituto de Salud Carlos III)
Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona

Date:	2023
Abstract:	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, PM, and PM 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 seven-day concentrations of 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/m; 95 % CI: 0. 01-0. 02 μg/m) and were all below the limit of quantification in control homes. Seven-day concentrations of PM and PM 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.
Rights:	Aquest document està subjecte a una llicència d'ús Creative Commons. Es permet la reproducció total o parcial, la distribució, i la comunicació pública de l'obra, sempre que no sigui amb finalitats comercials, i sempre que es reconegui l'autoria de l'obra original. No es permet la creació d'obres derivades.
Language:	Anglès
Document:	Article ; recerca ; Versió publicada
Subject:	Airborne markers ; Biomarkers ; Electronic cigarettes ; Electronic nicotine delivery systems ; Indoor pollution ; Secondhand aerosol
Published in:	Science of the total environment, Vol. 854 (january 2023) , p. 158668, ISSN 1879-1026

DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.158668
PMID: 36099951

10 p, 790.7 KB

The record appears in these collections:
Research literature > UAB research groups literature > Research Centres and Groups (research output) > Health sciences and biosciences > Institut de Recerca Sant Pau
Articles > Research articles
Articles > Published articles