Correlates of Nicotine Contamination in Cars

Background: Exposure to indoor environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) depends on smoking and ventilation rates, volume of smoking area, and deposition, sorption, and desorption processes. Within minutes of emission, tobacco smoke adsorbs and deposits on surfaces and accumulates in dust. Therefore, nonsmokers may be indirectly exposed to residual ETS compounds after a cigarette has been smoked.

Objective: To determine how smoking and driving behaviors, cleaning habits, and vehicle and cigarette characteristics mediate and moderate residual ETS contamination of cars.

Method: 127 participants were interviewed regarding their smoking status and car smoking behaviors. Nicotine levels were determined from air, dust, and surface wipe samples and physical evidence of cigarette smoking (ashes, burn marks, odor) was ascertained via direct observation.

Results: Of those interviewed, 40 nonsmokers and eight current smokers had a complete car smoking ban while 79 current smokers had no ban. For all smokers, regardless of smoking ban, the number of cigarettes smoked in the car was significantly associated with increased evidence of smoking, odor, and nicotine contamination. Driving with windows open and driving with the AC on were significantly associated with increased contamination. Mileage was significantly associated with strong odor of tobacco. Taking precaution to keep smoke outside of the car while smoking was significantly associated with decreased odor. Cleaning behavior was not significantly associated with contamination.

Conclusion: Smokers find it difficult to avoid polluting their cars with residual ETS through smoking bans, precautionary behaviors, or ventilation. Cars driven by smokers are polluted with residual SHS regardless of smoking bans.