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Mainstream and environmental tobacco smoke
Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology : RTP
|August 1, 1991
Summary
Environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) exposure is significantly lower than active smoking doses. Observed health risks from ETS may be statistical artifacts due to confounding factors and bias.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health
- Toxicology
- Public Health
Background:
- Environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) differs compositionally from mainstream smoke (MSS) due to generation and dilution.
- ETS undergoes aging, leading to further differences from MSS.
- Direct comparison of MSS and ETS biologic activities is challenging.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the inhaled doses of ETS and MSS.
- To evaluate the potential health risks attributed to ETS exposure.
Main Methods:
- Dose estimation comparing ETS and MSS respirable suspended particulate (RSP) and gas phases.
- Review of epidemiologic data on active smoking risks for lung cancer, cardiovascular, and respiratory diseases.
Main Results:
- ETS-RSP inhaled doses are 10,000- to 100,000-fold less than MSS-RSP doses.
- Average annual ETS dose is equivalent to less than one cigarette dispersed over a year.
- Epidemiologic studies show active smoking of 4-5 cigarettes/day may not significantly increase lung cancer risk.
Conclusions:
- Marginal relative risks attributed to ETS in some studies are likely statistical artifacts.
- Unaccounted confounders and bias may influence ETS-related risk findings.
- The low dose of ETS suggests a minimal contribution to observed disease risks.