Peggy Reynolds1, Debbie E Goldberg, Susan Hurley. 1. Environmental Epidemiology Section, California Department of Health Services, Environmental Health Investigations Branch, Oakland, California 94612, USA. preynolds@dhs.ca.gov
Abstract
PURPOSE: This study describes the prevalence and patterns of environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) exposure in a large, well-defined cohort of professional, female school employees in California. DESIGN: This is a cross-sectional study based on survey responses from members of the California Teachers Study (CTS) cohort. SUBJECTS: The analyses focused on lifetime nonsmokers (N = 61,899) in the CTS cohort who responded to detailed questions on lifetime ETS exposures in the home, workplace, and other social settings. MEASURES: Demographic characteristics, smoking status, and ETS exposure were based on self-reported data from two mailed surveys. Prevalence estimates within the cohort were compared with those from the California Behavioral Risk Factor Survey and the California Adult Tobacco Survey. RESULTS: ETS exposures were highest for never smokers born in the 1930s (78% in the home, 66% in the workplace, and 48% in other social settings) and steadily declined among participants born in later years. ETS exposure from spousal smoking peaked during the 1950s (37%). In the 1980s, the workplace (28%) replaced the household (19%) as the primary exposure setting. CONCLUSIONS: Consideration of these patterns in the prevalence of ETS exposures is important in the interpretation and design of tobacco-related health studies.
PURPOSE: This study describes the prevalence and patterns of environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) exposure in a large, well-defined cohort of professional, female school employees in California. DESIGN: This is a cross-sectional study based on survey responses from members of the California Teachers Study (CTS) cohort. SUBJECTS: The analyses focused on lifetime nonsmokers (N = 61,899) in the CTS cohort who responded to detailed questions on lifetime ETS exposures in the home, workplace, and other social settings. MEASURES: Demographic characteristics, smoking status, and ETS exposure were based on self-reported data from two mailed surveys. Prevalence estimates within the cohort were compared with those from the California Behavioral Risk Factor Survey and the California Adult Tobacco Survey. RESULTS: ETS exposures were highest for never smokers born in the 1930s (78% in the home, 66% in the workplace, and 48% in other social settings) and steadily declined among participants born in later years. ETS exposure from spousal smoking peaked during the 1950s (37%). In the 1980s, the workplace (28%) replaced the household (19%) as the primary exposure setting. CONCLUSIONS: Consideration of these patterns in the prevalence of ETS exposures is important in the interpretation and design of tobacco-related health studies.
Authors: Peggy Reynolds; Debbie Goldberg; Susan Hurley; David O Nelson; Joan Largent; Katherine D Henderson; Leslie Bernstein Journal: Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev Date: 2009-12 Impact factor: 4.254