142nd APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition

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305775
Assessment of secondhand smoke exposure at workplace among non-smoking hospitality workers

142nd APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition (November 15 - November 19, 2014): http://www.apha.org/events-and-meetings/annual
Monday, November 17, 2014

Chih-Yang Hu, MSPH, ScD , School of Public Health, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center - New Orleans, New Orleans, LA
Nikki Lawhorn Rider, ScD, MPP , Division of Evaluation and Research, National Network of Public Health Institutes, New Orleans, LA
James Diaz, MD, MPH, DrPH , School of Public Health, LSU Health Sciences Center New Orleans, LA, New Orleans, LA
Lisanne Brown, PhD MPH , Division of Evaluation and Research, Louisiana Public Health Institute, New Orleans, LA
Louisiana state legislature enacted the Louisiana Smoke-Free Air Act in 2007, which prohibited smoking in all workplaces, with exemption for hospitality venues such as bars and casinos. Due to this exemption, non-smoking Louisiana bar and casino employees and the musicians who perform in those venues are still at increased risk for secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure.

The goal of this study was to characterize the level of SHS exposure among employees in Louisiana who are not protected by the Louisiana Smoke-Free Air Act by measuring salivary cotinine levels before and after work shifts. A pre-post test study design was implemented to assess SHS exposure. Cotinine was selected as a measure of tobacco smoke exposure given that it is a unique metabolite of nicotine. Eligible individuals who agreed to participate in the study were asked to complete two short surveys that were designed to collect demographic information and details on their exposure to SHS. Participants were also given a test kit with two swabs and instructions to take pre- and post-shift saliva samples.

The findings demonstrate that post-shift saliva cotinine levels of hospitality employees who are exposed to SHS in the workplace are significantly higher than controls who work in smoke-free venues. Findings also suggested a statistically significant increase between pre- and post-shift saliva cotinine levels of hospitality employees who are exposed in the workplace. Although no significant difference was noted across labor categories.

The study results indicate that non-smoking hospitality employees exposed to SHS in the workplace have significantly higher cotinine levels compared with their counterparts who work in smoke-free venues. Findings from other studies suggest that these increased cotinine levels are harmful to health. The study was conducted as part of the evaluation of the Louisiana Campaign for Tobacco Free Living (TFL), a statewide tobacco prevention and treatment program.

Learning Areas:

Advocacy for health and health education
Environmental health sciences
Public health or related public policy

Learning Objectives:
Describe the methodology in the study to quantify SHS exposure in the workplaces.

Keyword(s): Built Environment, Environmental Health

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am a co-investigator.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

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