<< Secondhand Smoke The success of measures to restrict smoking in indoor environments and the intensity of enforcement vary among countries around the world. In 2001, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) launched the Smoke-Free Americas Initiative to build capacity to achieve smoke-free environments in Latin America and the Caribbean. To assess secondhand smoke concentrations in public places in the capital cities of Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, Paraguay, Peru and Uruguay in conjunction with the Smoke-Free Americas Initiative.
Multicountry assessment of vapor-phase nicotine concentrations using a common protocol in all seven Latin American countries. A total of 633 sampling devices were placed for 7 to 14 days in one hospital, twp secondary schools, one city government building, one airport (twp in Argentina), and restaurants and bars in each country.
Airborne nicotine was detected in most (94 percent) of the locations surveyed. By country, Argentina and Uruguay had the highest median concentrations in most environments. Overall, bars and restaurants had the highest median concentrations. Nicotine concentrations were also found in a number of key sentinel buildings, including 95 percent of hospital samples, schools, government buildings and/or airports in most countries. The finding of airborne nicotine in critical locations in Latin America provides a basis for enforcing smoke-free initiatives and for strengthening the protection of the public from unwanted exposure to secondhand smoke.
Navas-Acien A, Peruga A, Breysse P, Zavaletta A, Blanco-Marquizo A, Pitarque R et al. Secondhand tobacco smoke in public places in Latin America, 2002-2003. JAMA 2004;291(22):2741-45. See article
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