Science Inventory

MICROENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS RELATED TO CALIFORNIANS POTENTIAL EXPOSURE TO ENVIRONMENTAL TOBACCO SMOKE (ETS)

Citation:

Robinson, J., P. Switzer, AND W. Ott. MICROENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS RELATED TO CALIFORNIANS POTENTIAL EXPOSURE TO ENVIRONMENTAL TOBACCO SMOKE (ETS). U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C., EPA/600/R-94/116 (NTIS PB94214814).

Description:

Using the 1987-88 California Activity Pattern (CAP) Survey, this report examines various microenvironmental aspects of personal exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) that were not explored in earlier reports. hese topics include: (1) predictors of those individuals with the highest ETS exposures, (2) daily activities and locations associated with higher and lower amounts of ETS exposure, with special emphasis on the workplace, (3) ETS exposure for persons in those locations with exposure to other sources (for example, gasoline, gas stoves, or chemicals at the workplace. rom a multivariate analysis, this report concludes: (1) education remains a major demographic predictor of potential ETS exposure among individuals; (2) time spent working was a major and consistent correlate of exposure to ETS, while drinking at bars/lounges and eating out at restaurants also were significant correlates of ETS exposure. (The association with work settings remained strong after control for the length of the activity episode and hence was not simply a function of longer time intervals at work.); (3) respondents who reported the presence of dust particles at work also reported significantly higher ETS exposure and were exposed to other potential pollutant sources as well. hese analyses generally confirm the important role of workplace factors in the public's exposure to ETS. he analysis-also indicates a great variety of settings in which work takes place--and the great variety of ETS exposures across settings (from 9% of work settings inside on@'s home to 17% in schools and hospital settings td 64 % in bars/lounges and other public places. hese variations suggest the complexity of microenvironments in which exposure to ETS takes place.