Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Table 3.8
Symptoms Prevalence (%) in
Nonallergic and Allergic Nonsmokers
Associated with Reported Exposure to ETS
Symptom
Nonallergic
Allergic
Eye irritation
69
73
Nasal symptoms
29
67
Headache
32
46
Cough
25
46
Wheezing
4
23
Nausea
9
15
Hoarseness
4
16
Dizziness
6
5
Source:
Data extracted from Speer, F.,
Arch. Envi-
ron. Health
, 16, 443, 1968.
A number of cross-sectional epidemiological studies have been con-
ducted to evaluate sick building-type symptom risk factors in office build-
ings. Studies that have evaluated passive smoking as a risk factor for such
symptoms have consistently shown a relationship between office worker
perceptions of ETS exposure and symptom prevalence. Other studies
attempting to evaluate objective measurements and symptom prevalence
have reported weaker relationships. Exposure to ETS may have an indirect
effect: because of the subjective annoyance expressed by nonsmokers to the
presence of ETS in office environments, it is likely that such annoyance may
increase SBS-type symptom reporting rates.
Among the most significant concerns associated with exposure to ETS
are potential respiratory and other effects associated with chronic exposures.
Numerous epidemiological studies have been conducted to evaluate such
health risks, particularly lung cancer.
Reports published by the Surgeon General and the National Research
Council in 1986 comprehensively reviewed the scientific literature on human
exposure to ETS. Both concluded that such exposure was a cause of disease
in nonsmokers.
A number of epidemiological studies have linked exposure to ETS with
an increased occurrence of lower respiratory tract illness during infancy and
childhood. The USEPA estimates that between 150,000 and 300,000 of such
cases in infants and young children annually are due to ETS exposure. Of
these, between 7500 and 15,000 children are hospitalized. Among the
reported illnesses are bronchitis and pneumonia, which are infectious in
nature. It appears that an effect of ETS exposure is to predispose infants and
children to respiratory infections (likely due to its irritant properties). The
risk of respiratory illness appears to be greater in the first year of life and is
closely linked with maternal smoking. Greater numbers of smokers and
higher smoking rates increase the risk of respiratory illness in young chil-
dren. For school-age children, parental smoking increases the risk of chest
illness, the prevalence of which increases with the number of smoking par-
