"I knew the effects the whole time." Examination of facilitators and barriers to quit vaping among adolescents.

Despite declines in adolescent nicotine vaping during the COVID-19 pandemic, vaping continues to be a public health issue for many adolescents. Most studies on teen reasons for vaping and on barriers and facilitators of vaping were conducted prior to the pandemic. Because teen culture changes so rapidly, and because the pandemic had wide-reaching effects on teens and mental health, it is critical to have a current understanding what helps adolescents to quit vaping (facilitators), as well as what prevents them from quitting (barriers) in order to design effective and engaging interventions. The objective of this qualitative study was to examine reasons for vaping, and barriers and facilitators to quitting vaping among high school age (14-18 years old) students. Students (n = 28; 60.7 % female; 50 % White, 10.7 % Black or African American, 25 % Asian or Asian American, 3.6 % other non-Hispanic; 7.2 % Hispanic; 21.4 % former vapers, 78.6 % current vapers) were recruited online from four regions in the US and participated in one of five online focus groups. We conducted a content analysis of the focus groups using a team-based coding approach. The most frequently cited reasons for vaping were mood, peer influence, and boredom. Results also showed that the stigma of seeking treatment acted as a barrier to quitting vaping, while self-reflection acted as a facilitator. In addition, two factors, peer influence and health effects, served as both barriers and facilitators, depending on the context. Program developers can use this information to design engaging vaping cessation programs intended for adolescents.

Emotion Dysregulation and E-Cigarette Expectancies among College Student E-Cigarette Users.

Background: E-cigarette outcome expectancies (i.e., beliefs about the expected consequences of e-cigarette use) are a key factor in motivating use. Emotion regulation difficulties have demonstrated significant associations with outcome expectancies; however, there has yet to be an examination of associations between specific emotion regulation difficulties and specific e-cigarette outcome expectancies, which could serve as targets for intervention efforts. Therefore, the current study sought to examine the unique predictive ability of specific emotion regulation difficulties in terms of e-cigarette outcome expectancies. Methods: Participants were 116 college student e-cigarette users (Mage = 19.72, SD = 1.88; 71.6% female) who completed self-report questionnaires for course credit. Results: Greater difficulties engaging in goal-directed behavior when experiencing negative emotions and fewer difficulties accessing effective emotion regulation strategies were associated with positive reinforcement outcome expectancies. Greater emotion regulation difficulties in general were also associated with negative reinforcement outcome expectancies, though there were no significant individual predictors. Conclusion: These results suggest that greater emotion regulation difficulties are associated with mood-related e-cigarette outcome expectancies, and targeting emotion regulation difficulties, particularly difficulty engaging in goal-directed behavior when upset, may be useful to incorporate into intervention efforts.

Biological Sex as a Moderator of Work Determinants of Health: Implications for Work and Stress.

This study examined whether biological sex moderates the relationship between experiences of workplace culture and urinary levels of catecholamines and their metabolites. We conducted a series of regression analyses (predictors: 3-methoxytyramine (3MT), 5-hydroxyindolacetic (5HIAA), and dopamine (DA); outcomes: employee engagement and workplace culture) in a sample of 218 participants. Compared to men, women rated workplace culture less positively (r = -0.210; p < 0.01) and had stronger positive associations with 3MT (r = 0.328; p < 0.001), DA (r = 0.376; p < 0.001), and 5HIAA (r = 0.168; p < 0.01). There was a significant moderation effect between 3MT and sex on employee engagement (b = -1.76 (SE = 0.84); p < 0.01), and 3MT had a positive significant association for men with engagement (p < 0.05); however, there was no significant association for women. Findings suggest that for women, less positive experiences with workplace culture could elevate 3MT, stimulating sympathetic nervous tone and potentially amplifying risks for negative health outcomes. Conversely, men who reported higher employee engagement had higher levels of 3MT, suggesting possible health risks associated with high levels of engagement, rather than lack of engagement. Overall, study findings suggested differential health risks based on biological sex, potentially impacting health risk policy development.

Racial/Ethnic Discrimination and Cardiometabolic Diseases: A Systematic Review.

INTRODUCTION: Racial discrimination has been identified as a risk factor for cardiometabolic diseases, the leading cause of morbidity and mortality among racial/ethnic minority groups; however, there is no synthesis of current knowledge on the association between discrimination and cardiometabolic diseases. The objective of this systematic review was to summarize evidence linking racial/ethnic discrimination and cardiometabolic diseases. METHODS: The review was conducted based on studies identified via electronic searches of 5 databases (PubMed, Google Scholar, WorldWideScience.org, ResearchGate and Microsoft Academic) using terms related to discrimination and cardiometabolic disease. RESULTS: Of the 123 eligible studies included in the review, 87 were cross-sectional, 25 longitudinal, 8 quasi-experimental, 2 randomized controlled trials and 1 case-control. Cardiometabolic disease outcomes discussed were hypertension (n = 46), cardiovascular disease (n = 40), obesity (n = 12), diabetes (n = 11), metabolic syndrome (n = 9), and chronic kidney disease (n = 5). Although a variety of discrimination measures was employed across the studies, the Everyday Discrimination Scale was used most often (32.5%). African Americans/Blacks were the most frequently studied racial/ethnic group (53.1%), and American Indians the least (0.02%). Significant associations between racial/ethnic discrimination and cardiometabolic disease were found in 73.2% of the studies. DISCUSSION: Racial/ethnic discrimination is positively associated with increased risk of cardiometabolic disease and higher levels of cardiometabolic biomarkers. Identifying racial/ethnic discrimination as a potential key contributor to the health inequities associated with cardiometabolic diseases is important for addressing the significant burden borne by racial/ethnic minorities.

Psychological Distress and Cannabis Vaping Among U.S. Adolescents.

INTRODUCTION: Cannabis vaping has become increasingly popular among adolescents in recent years. However, research examining mental health determinants of cannabis vaping is scant. This study investigated the relationship between psychological distress and cannabis vaping among a nationally representative sample of U.S. adolescents. METHODS: Data are from the cross-sectional 2022 National Youth Tobacco Survey, restricted to adolescents ages 11-18 (n=22,202). Psychological distress was categorized as normal, mild, moderate, and severe according to the Patient Health Questionnaire for Depression and Anxiety-4. Cannabis vaping was defined as any use in the past 30 days. To estimate the association between psychological distress and cannabis vaping, logistic regression was performed adjusted for age, biological sex, race/ethnicity, sexual orientation, school grades, family smoking/vaping, nicotine vaping, other tobacco use, and blunt use. Analyses were conducted in 2023. RESULTS: Nearly 8% of adolescents vaped cannabis in the past 30 days, and 25.6% reported moderate or severe psychological distress. Mild, moderate, and severe psychological distress were associated with cannabis vaping in the unadjusted model. In the adjusted model, the odds of cannabis vaping were higher among adolescents who had severe psychological distress (OR: 1.46, 95% CI: 1.09-1.96), compared to adolescents with no distress. Older age, poor grades, family smoking/vaping, nicotine vaping, other tobacco use, and blunt use were also associated with cannabis vaping. CONCLUSIONS: Severe psychological distress was associated with past 30-day cannabis vaping among U.S. adolescents. Adolescents experiencing psychological distress need to be screened for cannabis vaping to help prevent and reduce use and promote mental health.

The Green Heart Project: Objectives, Design, and Methods.

The Green Heart Project is a community-based trial to evaluate the effects of increasing greenery on urban environment and community health. The study was initiated in 2018 in a low-to-middle-income mixed-race residential area of nearly 28,000 residents in Louisville, KY. The 4 square mile area was surveyed for land use, population characteristics, and greenness, and assigned to 8 paired clusters of demographically- and environmentally matched "target" (T) and adjacent "control" (C), clusters. Ambient levels of ultrafine particles, ozone, oxides of nitrogen, and environmental noise were measured in each cluster. Individual-level data were acquired during in-person exams of 735 participants in Wave 1 (2018-2019) and 545 participants in Wave 2 (2021) to evaluate sociodemographic and psychosocial factors. Blood, urine, nail, and hair samples were collected to evaluate standard cardiovascular risk factors, inflammation, stress, and pollutant exposure. Cardiovascular function was assessed by measuring arterial stiffness and flow-mediated dilation. After completion of Wave 2, more than 8,000 mature, mostly evergreen, trees and shrubs were planted in the T clusters in 2022. Post planting environmental and individual-level data were collected during Wave 3 (2022) from 561 participants. We plan to continue following changes in area characteristics and participant health to evaluate the long-term impact of increasing urban greenery.

Differences in health care provider screening for tobacco use among youth in the United States: The National Youth Tobacco Survey, 2021.

OBJECTIVE: Health care providers (HCP) are encouraged to screen youth for tobacco product use as a key step in preventing such use and associated health outcomes. However, recent data examining differences in HCP tobacco screening by sociodemographic characteristics and tobacco use is scant. METHODS: Data from the 2021 National Youth Tobacco Survey (N = 14,685) were analyzed. Three types of HCP screening were examined: no screening, any e-cigarette use (e-cigarette only, e-cigarette and other tobacco), and non-e-cigarette tobacco product use. Differences by HCP screening were examined using multinomial logistic regression adjusted for age, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race/ethnicity, and tobacco use (non-current, sole, dual/poly). RESULTS: Among the sample, 42.8% were screened for any tobacco use, with 30.6% screened for any e-cigarette use and 12.2% for non-e-cigarette tobacco product use only. Youth who were older (vs. younger) (OR = 5.98, 95% CI: 4.78-7.49) and gay/lesbian (vs. heterosexual) (OR = 1.47, 95% CI: 1.02-2.12) were more likely to be screened for e-cigarette use. Youth who were non-Hispanic Black (vs. non-Hispanic White) were less likely to be screened for e-cigarette use (OR = 0.53, 95% CI: 0.42-0.67) and more likely to be screened for non-e-cigarette tobacco use (OR = 1.34, 95% CI: 1.10-1.63). Current sole tobacco use (vs. non-current use) and dual/poly tobacco use (vs. non-current use) increased the likelihood for HCP screening for e-cigarette use. CONCLUSIONS: The majority of U.S. youth continue to not be screened for tobacco use by their HCP. Evidence of disparities in tobacco use screening suggest the need for policies and training that promote equity in screening.

The Role of Perceived Neighborhood Cohesion in the Association between Depressive Symptoms and Cigarette Smoking.

BACKGROUND: Greater depression has been linked to increased smoking rates. However, the mechanisms underlying this association are not fully understood. It is possible that high perceived neighborhood cohesion may serve as one such mechanism given its associations with decreased depression and smoking. Having increased levels of depression likely impacts one's perceptions of neighborhood cohesion, which could lead to further increases in depression and a need to manage these symptoms via cigarette smoking. As a first test of this theory, the current study examined the effect of neighborhood cohesion on the association between depressive symptoms and smoking frequency and quantity among past 30-day cigarette smokers. METHODS: Participants were 201 combustible cigarette smokers (Mage = 48.33, SD = 11.64; 63.2% female; 68.2% White) who completed self-report measures as part of a larger study of environmental influences on cardiac health. RESULTS: Greater depressive symptoms were associated with lower levels of perceived neighborhood cohesion, and there was a significant indirect effect of greater depressive symptoms on heavier smoking through decreased neighborhood cohesion (b = .07, SE = .04, 95% CI [.003, .15]). There was no significant indirect effect for daily smoking. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that neighborhood cohesion is an important contextual factor that serves as one explanatory mechanism for the well-established relationship between depression and smoking quantity. Thus, there may be utility in implementing interventions focused on increasing neighborhood cohesion as a way to decrease smoking behavior.

Differences in health care provider advice on abstaining from tobacco use: Findings from the 2020 National Youth Tobacco Survey.

BACKGROUND: Health care providers' (HCP) advice on tobacco prevention and cessation is critical in addressing the tobacco use epidemic among adolescents. However, examination of whether receiving advice from HCPs differs by adolescent sociodemographic characteristics and tobacco use is limited. METHODS: HCP advice to abstain from using tobacco was examined using the 2020 National Youth Tobacco Survey (N = 12,483). Sociodemographic (age, sex, sexual orientation, race/ethnicity, and region) and tobacco use (non-current, sole, dual/poly) differences by HCP advice were evaluated using adjusted logistic regression models. RESULTS: Among the sample, 37.26% of adolescents received HCP advice to abstain from using tobacco products, and 31.35% received HCP advice to abstain from using e-cigarettes specifically. Adolescents who were non-Hispanic Black (vs. non-Hispanic White) were more likely not to receive HCP advice to abstain from all tobacco products (OR = 1.31, 95% CI: 1.08-1.59). Adolescents who were non-Hispanic Black (vs. non-Hispanic White) (OR = 1.41, 95% CI: 1.16-1.73) or sexual minority (vs. heterosexual) (OR = 1.16, 95% CI: 1.02-1.33) were more likely not to receive HCP advice to abstain from e-cigarettes. Adolescents who were aged 16-18 (vs. aged 9-12) (OR = 0.68, 95% CI: 0.56-0.83) or currently use dual/poly tobacco products (vs. adolescents who do not currently use tobacco) (OR = 0.56, 95% CI: 0.43-0.74) were more likely to receive HCP advice to abstain from using e-cigarettes). CONCLUSIONS: Many U.S. adolescents do not receive HCP advice to abstain from using tobacco. HCPs should increase tobacco prevention and cessation advice across adolescent groups, particularly racial/ethnic and sexual minorities. HCP training and public health policies that improve delivery of e-cigarette advice to adolescents are essential.

Long-term impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on use behavior and risk perceptions of college student E-cigarette users.

Objective: Work examining the long-term impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on e-cigarette use among college students is limited. Therefore, the current study examined differences in college student e-cigarette users' changes in use behavior and risk perceptions as the pandemic continues. Participants: 129 undergraduate current e-cigarette users (Mage = 19.68, SD = 1.85; 72.1% female; 85.3% White). Methods: Participants completed an online survey between October 2020 and April 2021. Results: In terms of changes in frequency of e-cigarette use, 30.5% of participants increased their use and 23.4% decreased their use. Greater e-cigarette dependence and anxiety were associated with increased use. Nearly half of e-cigarette users reported increased motivation to quit, and 32.5% had made at least one quit attempt. Conclusions: A substantial number of students increased their e-cigarette use as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Cessation efforts targeting increased anxiety and dependence may be useful in this population.

Associations between sleep disturbance, physical activity, and anxiety sensitivity among college students during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The present study sought to examine associations between anxiety sensitivity and both sleep and physical activity among college students, who are particularly vulnerable to sleep disturbance, decreased physical activity, and the development of psychopathology, especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants were 683 college students (Mage = 20.33, SD = 3.58; 72% female; 70.3% White) who completed self-report measures online for course credit. Results indicated that after controlling for the effects of age, gender identity, and race, greater sleep disturbance was significantly associated with higher overall anxiety sensitivity (7% unique variance; ß = 0.27, t = 6.67, p < .001) as well as its three subdomains (physical concerns: 4% variance; ß = 0.21, t = 4.97, p < .001; cognitive concerns: 6% variance; ß = 0.25, t = 6.17, p < .001; social concerns: 6% variance; ß = 0.26, t = 6.22, p < .001). Additionally, more time spent walking was associated with greater anxiety sensitivity physical concerns (1% variance; ß = 0.11, t = 2.52, p = .012) and greater vigorous intensity physical activity was associated with lower anxiety sensitivity social concerns (1% variance; ß = -0.13, t = -2.76, p = .006). These findings suggest that sleep problems may be more universally relevant to anxiety sensitivity than physical activity and interventions to promote healthier sleep may be useful for decreasing anxiety sensitivity in college students.

Harm perceptions of secondhand e-cigarette aerosol among youth in the United States.

E-cigarette use among youth remains a public health concern. Although extant literature has examined the perceived harms of cigarette use and secondhand smoke, perceptions of harms associated with secondhand e-cigarette aerosol (SHA) are not well understood. Therefore, we used data from the 2020 U.S. National Youth Tobacco Survey (n = 13,292) in which participants indicated whether SHA caused no harm, little harm, some harm, or a lot of harm. We dichotomized SHA harm perceptions as harmless vs harmful. We included sociodemographics (i.e., age, sex, race/ethnicity, sexual orientation, urbanicity), e-cigarette use characteristics, and SHA exposure as covariates and estimated associations between SHA harm perceptions and each covariate using adjusted logistic regression. Most youth perceived SHA as harmful (87.9 %) compared to harmless (12.1 %). Older youth (vs younger youth) had higher odds of perceiving SHA as harmless, whereas male (vs female) youth had 49 % higher odds (95 % CI: 1.29-1.72) of perceiving SHA as harmless. As the number of days of e-cigarette use in the past 30 days increased (vs non-users), odds of perceiving SHA as harmless increased. Youth exposed to SHA (vs no exposure) in the past 30 days had 35 % higher odds of perceiving SHA as harmless (95 % CI: 1.16-1.57). To conclude, youth SHA harm perceptions varied overall and by sociodemographic characteristics, e-cigarette use, and SHA exposure. Educational campaigns to inform youth of the health risks associated with e-cigarettes and SHA are needed to reduce overall nicotine intake and disparities in nicotine exposure.

The Relationship between Perceptions and Objective Measures of Greenness.

Exposure to greenness has been studied through objective measures of remote visualization of greenspace; however, the link to how individuals interpret spaces as green is missing. We examined the associations between three objective greenspace measures with perceptions of greenness. We used a subsample (n = 175; 2018-2019) from an environmental cardiovascular risk cohort to investigate perceptions of residential greenness. Participants completed a 17-item survey electronically. Objective measurements of greenness within 300 m buffer around participants home included normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), tree canopy and leaf area index. Principal component analysis reduced the perceived greenspaces to three dimensions reflecting natural vegetation, tree cover and built greenspace such as parks. Our results suggest significant positive associations between NDVI, tree canopy and leaf area and perceived greenness reflecting playgrounds; also, associations between tree canopy and perceived greenness reflecting tree cover. These findings indicate that the most used objective greenness measure, NDVI, as well as tree canopy and leaf area may most align with perceptions of parks, whereas tree canopy alone captures individuals' perceptions of tree cover. This highlights the need for research to understand the complexity of green metrics and careful interpretation of data based on the use of subjective or objective measures of greenness.

Community-Based Evaluation of the Associations Between Well-Being and Cardiovascular Disease Risk.

Background Although the effects of psychological health and optimism have been extensively investigated, data from community-based cohorts assessing the association between psychological health and cardiovascular disease risk factors are sparse, and the concurrent relationship between subjective well-being and cardiovascular health has not been studied. Methods and Results The current cross-sectional study examined the association between well-being and cardiovascular risk factors among 719 individuals living in a middle- to low-income neighborhood. After adjusting for age, sex, race, body mass index, education, smoking status, and exercise status, we found that higher levels of well-being were significantly associated with lower odds of dyslipidemia (odds ratio [OR], 0.7 [95% CI, 0.55-0.85]) and hypertension (OR, 0.8 [95% CI, 0.63-0.92]). Greater well-being was also significantly associated with lower triglyceride levels (mean difference [Mdiff], 7.6 [-14.31 to -0.78]), very low-density lipoprotein (Mdiff, 0.9 [-1.71 to -0.16]), total cholesterol to high-density lipoprotein ratio (Mdiff, 3.9 [-6.07 to -1.73]), higher high-density lipoprotein levels (Mdiff, 1.6 [0.46-2.75]), and lower Framingham Risk Scores (Mdiff, -7.1% [-10.84% to -3.16%]). Well-being also moderated the association between age and arterial stiffness. The strongest association between arterial stiffness and age was found for those with the lowest well-being scores; there was no association between age and arterial stiffness at high levels of well-being. Conclusions In a community-based cohort, individuals reporting higher levels of well-being have lower odds of hypertension and dyslipidemia as well as lower rates of age-dependent increase in vascular stiffness. Registration URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov; Unique identifier: NCT03670524.

Workplace Culture and Biomarkers of Health Risk.

Workplace culture has been studied for impact on health risk; however, connections with robust biologic markers of health remain to be established. We examined associations between the work environment and urinary levels of catecholamines and their metabolites as biomarkers of sympathetic nervous system activity, indicative of stress. We recruited participants (n = 219; 2018-2019) from a cardiovascular risk cohort to investigate workplace culture, well-being, and stress. Participants completed seven questionnaires. Urine samples were used to measure catecholamines and their metabolites by LC/MS/MS. Pearson correlation and linear regression models were used after adjusting for demographics and creatinine. Participants reporting higher well-being had lower urinary levels of dopamine, serotonin, and 3-methoxytyramine. Participants reporting a more engaged and more positive workplace had lower levels of dopamine and 3-methoxytyramine. Reported workplace isolation was correlated with higher levels of dopamine and 3-methoxytyramine. Given correlations between catecholamines, we used 3-methoxytyramine for linear regression. In fully adjusted models, in environments with a more positive culture, levels of 3-methoxytyramine remained lower (ß = -0.065 ± 0.025, p = 0.01) and indicated a positive association between workplace isolation and 3-methoxytyramine (ß = 0.064 ± 0.030, p = 0.04). These findings are consistent with an important relationship between workplace environment and sympathetic nervous system activity.

Changes in Internalizing Symptoms and Anxiety Sensitivity Among College Students During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

The early months of the COVID-19 pandemic saw significant increases in symptoms of anxiety and depression, particularly among college students. However, research has not examined how internalizing symptoms in this population have changed as the pandemic has continued into its second year. Further, there has yet to be an examination of potential changes in transdiagnostic vulnerability factors. Therefore, the purpose of the current repeated cross-sectional study was to examine differences by term in undergraduates' symptoms of depression, anxiety, worry, social anxiety, and anxiety sensitivity in the Spring 2020 (n = 251), Fall 2020 (n = 427), and Spring 2021 (n = 256) semesters. Results indicated that there were significant increases in depression, anxiety, worry, and anxiety sensitivity from Spring 2020 to Fall 2020 that were maintained through the Spring 2021 semester, and levels of social anxiety were significantly higher in Spring 2021 compared to Spring 2020. These findings suggest that the mental health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on college students have continued beyond the initial months, and colleges and universities will need to develop comprehensive plans to adequately address college students' mental health needs.

Differences in young adults' perceptions of e-cigarettes by history of use.

Objective: The current study examined group differences in college students' views on e-cigarettes in terms of safety, popularity, health risks, social acceptability, efficacy as a cessation aid, and promoting combustible cigarette use. Participants: 337 undergraduates (Mage = 20.84, SD = 3.79; 72.1% female; 68.5% White) divided into three groups: Never Users (n = 178), Ever Users (n = 108), and Current Users (n = 51). Methods: Participants completed questionnaires for course credit. Results: Compared to Ever and Never Users, Current Users believed e-cigarettes were safer, healthier, a useful tool to quit smoking, did not lead to combustible cigarette smoking, and that nicotine was less dangerous. Current Users also were less likely to endorse boosting social image as a motive for use. Conclusions: Public health campaigns could benefit from targeting current users' positive beliefs about e-cigarettes to reduce the prevalence of e-cigarette use among college students.

Readability of online e-cigarette cessation information.

INTRODUCTION: Given the growing awareness of the health risks associated with e-cigarettes, many users will access information about how to effectively quit using e-cigarettes, and the internet likely will be a popular source of information. However, little is known about the readability of online e-cigarette cessation information. Therefore, the goal of the current study was to assess the readability of webpage information about e-cigarette cessation. METHODS: A search of webpages was conducted using the following search terms: vaping addiction, quit vaping, quit Juul, stop vaping, stop Juul, and vaping cessation. The 464 webpages identified were coded for target audience, message valence, and source, and then assessed for reading level with the Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level assessment. RESULTS: On average, webpage content was written at a 7th grade reading level (Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level Mean=7.34, SD=2.22) and less than 25% of webpages met readability guidelines (i.e. ≤6th grade reading level). There were no differences in readability by target audience, message valence, or webpage source. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that most online content related to e-cigarette cessation is not written at a level that is easily understood by general audiences. Thus, tobacco control advocates should assess the reading level of their messaging to ensure wide accessibility of information.

College Student E-Cigarette Users' Knowledge about E-Cigarettes: Ingredients, Health Risks, Device Modifications, and Information Sources.

Although college students represent a growing demographic of e-cigarette users, it is unclear how knowledgeable they are about the product they use. The lack of such knowledge could result in unsafe practices and greater health risks. Therefore, the purpose of the current study was to examine college student e-cigarette users' knowledge about e-cigarette ingredients and health risks, how often they modify their devices, and whether they utilize reputable sources when searching for information regarding e-cigarettes. The participants were 183 undergraduate e-cigarette users (Mage = 19.98, SD = 1.98; 71.6% female; 85.8% White). Most participants correctly recognized that e-cigarettes increase the risk of cardiovascular disease and lung disease, but fewer than half recognized the increased risk of seizures and depression. Only one-third to one-half of participants correctly identified the toxic compounds commonly found in e-cigarettes, and most indicated that they would consult Google or a friend with questions about e-cigarettes. College student e-cigarette users are well-informed about many health risks associated with e-cigarettes. However, they are relatively unaware of the harmful substances in e-cigarettes and are seeking information from less reliable sources. Targeted public health campaigns educating college students about e-cigarettes, including where to seek reliable information, are needed.

Public Awareness of and Support for the Use of Wastewater for SARS-CoV-2 Monitoring: A Community Survey in Louisville, Kentucky.

The majority of sewer systems in the United States and other countries are operated by public utilities. In the absence of any regulation, the public perception of wastewater monitoring for population health biomarkers is an important consideration for a public utility commission when allocating resources for this purpose. We conducted a survey in August 2021 as part of an ongoing COVID-19 community prevalence study in Louisville/Jefferson County, KY, US. The survey comprised seven questions about wastewater awareness and privacy concerns and was sent to approximately 35 000 households randomly distributed within the county. A total of 1220 adults were involved in the probability sample, and data from 981 respondents were used in the analysis. A total of 2444 adults additionally responded to the convenience sample, and data from 1751 respondents were used in the analysis. The samples were weighted to obtain estimates representative of all adults in the county. Public awareness of tracking the virus that causes COVID-19 in sewers was low. Opinions strongly support the public disclosure of monitoring results. Responses showed that people more strongly supported measurements in the largest areas (>50 000 households), typically representing population levels found in a large community wastewater treatment plant. Those with a history of COVID-19 infection were more likely to support highly localized monitoring. Understanding wastewater surveillance strategies and privacy concern thresholds requires an in-depth and comprehensive analysis of public opinion for continued success and effective public health monitoring.