Tabagismo passivo: implicações genéticas em gerações / Secondhand smoke: genetics implicatons in future generations

Estudos divulgados recentemente, alguns com até 5 décadas de observações, concluíram com alto grau de evidências, que a exposição involuntária e sistemática à fumaça do cigarro tem implicações genéticas em gerações. Vai muito além do risco do "exposto primário". Ficaram evidentes riscos de doenças tabaco relacionadas em descendentes até a 3ª. geração, isto é, de avós para netos, mesmo que estes não sejam expostos à Poluição Tabagística Ambiental (PTA). As leis que controlam o tabagismo em locais públicos ou privados com circulação de pessoas trouxeram grandes benefícios para toda a coletividade, porém, no ambiente domiciliar, no interior do carro ou a exposição de "gestante/feto" a realidade é outra

Recently published studies, some with up to five decades of observations, have concluded with a high degree of evidence that involuntary and systematic exposure to cigarette smoke has genetic implications in generations. It goes far beyond the risk of the "primary exposed". There have been evident risks of tobacco-related diseases in descendants to the third generation, even if they had never been exposed to "Environmental Tobacco Pollution". Laws that control smoking in public or private places, with circulation of people, have brought great benefits to the whole community, However, regarding places such as the home environment, in the car or the exposure of fetus during pregnancy, have shown different results

Comparación de los niveles de contaminación por humo de tabaco ambiental en lugares de trabajo en 4 ciudades de Venezuela / Comparison of environmental tobacco smoke, indoor pollution levels in workplaces in 4 cities in Venezuela

Es bien sabido que el Humo de Tabaco Ambiental (HTA) es un contaminante del aire sumamente peligroso. Este humo contiene alrededor de 4.800 componentes químicos, de los cuales 69 son carcinógenos y muchos otros son irritantes, tóxicos y mutagénicos. Por esta razón Venezuela se ha unido a la lucha mundial contra este enemigo de la salud y para sustentarla se realizó en nuestro país en el año 2006 un estudio de los niveles de contaminación causada por HTA. Con esto se logró comparar la calidad de aire en ambientes cerrados sin prohibición para fumar, o con prohibición parcial (división de área para fumadores y no fumadores), como por ejemplo bares, restaurantes, casinos y transporte; con ambientes con prohibi-ción total para fumar, como universidades y hospitales. Este estudio se realizó midiendo en tiempo real la concentración (µg/m3) de partículas respirables con un diámetro menos a 2,5 µm (PM2.5), estas partículas son liberadas en grandes cantidades por cigarrillos encendidos y están relacionadas con los efectos adversos a la salud que produce el cigarrillo. Se determinó que en los ambientes con prohibición total los niveles de contaminación son 92% más bajos que los ambientes sin prohibición o con una prohibición parcial. Este resultado da a nuestro país el soporte científico para la implementación de políticas Ambientes Libres de Humo de Tabaco, que garanticen a la población un ambiente inocuo.

It is well known that secondhand smoke (SHS) is the main source of pollution in enclosed places to the people, such as: workplaces, public places, public transportation facilities, communities and home. This pollutant contains 4800 chemicals, 69 of which are carcinogens. In addition, many of these substances are toxic, poisonous and mutagenic to the human body. For this reason Venezuela has united to the worldwide fighting against this health hazard. In 2006 our country carried out a study evaluating the pollution levels caused by SHS. In this study was possible to compare air quality in partial or smoking places such as bars, restaurants and in public transport against nonsmoking places such as hospitals and universities. The study was done measuring concentrations (µg/m³) of breathable particles with a diameter less than 2.5 µm (PM2.5) in realtime, which are release by a lighted cigarette. Based on the measures taken, it was possible to determine that in free smoke places the pollution levels are 92% lower compare to smoking places. This result gives to our country the scientific support to establish policies for environments smokefree that warranty the public from the adverse health effects of passive smoking in public places.

Secondhand Smoke Exposure among Customers in Restaurants in Shanghai / 中国慢性病预防与控制

Objective To estimate the status of secondhand smoke (SHS) among restaurant customers in Shanghai and evaluate their support to smoke-free restaurants. Methods A random sample of 284 customers from 27 restaurants participated in the face to face interview. Results There were 55.8% smoking customers often smoke in the restaurants and 84.4% nonsmoking customers had suffered from secondhand smoke in restaurants. Among the customers, 73.9% supported the smoke-free law in restaurants and 49.6% of them expressed that they would more likely to go and eat in the restaurant after the smoke-free law implemented. Elder age, nonsmoking as well as college and above education background were the supporting factors for the smoke-free restaurants and the odds ratios were 1.03 (95%CI: 1.01~1.06), 6.40 (3.06~13.88) and 2.71 (1.44~5.11), respectively. Conclusion Customers have seriously suffered from SHS and most of them support the smoke-free policy. In general, the smoke-free restaurant policy will increase the intention of eating in the restaurants among customers.