Smoke-Free Policy Reduces Secondhand Smoke Exposure in Philadelphia's Residents

The levels of detected nicotine were reduced by almost half after the implementation of smoke-free policy in Philadelphia.

The federal Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) now requires all public housing authorities across the United States to implement smoke-free policies by 2018. The findings of a new study that monitored nicotine levels in Philadelphia Housing Authority properties both before and after the smoke-free policy are a timely look at what could be accomplished.

Philadelphia's public housing residents are breathing in less secondhand smoke since a 2015 comprehensive smoke-free policy went into place, a new study indicates.

Significant Secondhand Smoke Exposure Suffered by Nonsmokers in Automobiles
A landmark study has revealed that nonsmokers sitting in an automobile with a smoker for one hour had markers of significantly increased levels of carcinogens.

‘Community-wide smoke-free policies are more effective in reducing secondhand smoke exposures for all residents than policies that permit smoking inside individual residences.’

Ann Klassen, a professor in Drexel University's Dornsife School of Public Health, and her team found that although the number of places where nicotine was detected remained unchanged, the levels of detected nicotine were reduced by almost half after the policy was enacted.

"This is encouraging," Klassen said. "These data show a reduction in exposure to airborne nicotine, which is an indicator of reduced exposure to secondhand smoke, and, therefore, healthier air in multi-unit housing."

For their study, set to be published in Tobacco Regulatory Science, Klassen, Drexel epidemiologist Nora Lee and colleagues partnered with the Philadelphia Housing Authority and Philadelphia Department of Health, as well as the Second Hand Smoke Exposure Assessment Laboratory at Johns Hopkins University.

Policy Changes Have Reduced Exposure to Secondhand Smoke at Workplace
A new study reveals that new policy changes have helped reduce the exposure to tobacco smoke in workplaces.

The Philadelphia Housing Authority is the largest in the country to implement a fully smoke-free policy in their properties. The policy, approved in July, 2015, was developed by Philadelphia Housing Authority leadership in partnership with PHA residents, with technical support from the Philadelphia Department of Public Health, including on-site cessation services provided through the Health Federation of Philadelphia and National Nurse-Led Care Consortium.

Prior to the new policy, smoking was not permitted in public areas, but was allowed inside individual homes. However, there was concern about how secondhand smoke drifted in these properties and how much they affected common areas, like hallways, laundry room and elevators, and non-smoking households. In multi-unit housing, as much as 60% of air is transferred between units

Exposure to Secondhand Smoke in Womb Makes Kids Antisocial
Children who are exposed to second hand smoking were more likely to develop physically aggressive characteristics and become antisocial.

To measure potential secondhand smoke exposure, the team placed monitors throughout four different communities, ranging from high-rise apartment complexes to rowhomes, to capture nicotine in the air. Airborne nicotine was measured in common areas, where the average nicotine level was found to be significantly reduced (from 0.44 micrograms per cubic meter in 2013 to 0.23 in 2016). Inside non-smoking residents' homes, trends toward reduced nicotine exposures were also seen.

These findings confirm that community-wide smoke-free policies are more effective in reducing secondhand smoke exposures for all residents than policies that permit smoking inside individual residences. This is very important in public housing communities, which include a variety of residents, including children, elderly, and chronically ill residents, who are especially vulnerable to respiratory diseases, like asthma.

Exposure to Secondhand Smoke Increases Odds of Hospital Asthma Readmission for Children
Exposure to secondhand smoke at home or in the car dramatically increases the odds of children being readmitted to the hospital within a year of being admitted for asthma, shows a new study.

Klassen's study took readings from monitors in 2013, 2014 and 2016, but she supports continuing assessment. "For all new policies, it is very important to continue to monitor implementation over time and support consistent improvements," Klassen said. "Sustainable change takes long-term commitment, but this is a strong start."

Programming could strengthen that start and continue progress.

"Cessation and education services are an ongoing need all communities, as successful cessation takes time and support," Klassen explained. "In addition, environmental education - how secondhand smoke travels and how it remains over time - is a great interest for residents. We found that both smokers and non-smokers are truly interested in learning about how to protect the health of their families and communities."

Source-Eurekalert