Tobacco use among institutionalized adolescents in Turkey: does social environment affect the risk?

Indoor Exposure and Regional Inhaled Deposited Dose Rate during Smoking and Incense Stick Burning-The Jordanian Case as an Example for Eastern Mediterranean Conditions

Tobacco smoking and incense burning are commonly used in Jordanian microenvironments. While smoking in Jordan is prohibited inside closed spaces, incense burning remains uncontrolled. In this study, particle size distributions (diameter 0.01-25 µm) were measured and inhaled deposited dose rates were calculated during typical smoking and incense stick-burning scenarios inside a closed room, and the exposure was summarized in terms of number and mass concentrations of submicron (PN_Sub) and fine particles (PM_2.5). During cigarette smoking and incense stick-burning scenarios, the particle number concentrations exceeded 3 × 10⁵ cm^-3. They exceeded 5 × 10⁵ cm^-3 during shisha smoking. The emission rates were 1.9 × 10¹⁰, 6.8 × 10¹⁰, and 1.7 × 10¹⁰ particles/s, respectively, for incense, cigarettes, and shisha. That corresponded to about 7, 80, and 120 µg/s, respectively. Males received higher dose rates than females, with about 75% and 55% in the pulmonary/alveolar during walking and standing, respectively. The total dose rates were in the order of 10¹²-10¹³ #/h (10³-10⁴ µg/h), respectively, for PN_Sub and PM_2.5. The above reported concentrations, emissions rates, and dose rates are considered seriously high, recalling the fact that aerosols emitted during such scenarios consist of a vast range of toxicant compounds.

Influence of Family Smoking Habits and Passive Smoking on Smoking Status Among Belgrade University Students

BACKGROUND

There are many factors that affect smoking behavior.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of our study was to identify the most important risk factors related to smoking in the sample population of students at the University of Belgrade with a special emphasize on the family role.

METHODS

The cross-sectional study was conducted in a population of 2,000 students of the Belgrade University. Four faculties (Medicine, Geography, Economics, and Electrical Engineering) from which the students participating in this research were chosen by the method of random choice, conducted in the period April-June 2010.

RESULTS

Independent risk factors for smoking in students, assessed by multivariate logistic regression analysis, included: repeating a year (odds ratio (OR) = 1.67, p < .001), the number of hours spent in the rooms where others smoke (OR = 2.86, p < .001), brother smoker (OR = 1.88, p < .001), sister smoker (OR = 2.33, p < .001), knowledge about the association between smoking and lung cancer (OR = 0.31, p < .001), and depression (OR = 1.02, p = .013).

CONCLUSION

Bearing in mind the influence of siblings, prevention, and intervention efforts should be focused more on family members than on the broader social environment. The results also indicate the need to develop a conscience on a healthy life style and to educate people to enhance and improve their health control.

Tobacco Use among Foster Youth: Evidence of Health Disparities

Youth aging out of foster care face a challenging road to independence. Following exposure to myriad risk factors such as abuse, neglect, parental substance use, and severe housing mobility, supportive services decrease upon exit from care, often increasing risk for substance use, homelessness, and unemployment. Although tobacco use is also highly prevalent, little attention has been paid to screening, assessment, and treatment of tobacco use in this vulnerable group. The current study (N = 116) reports on tobacco use prevalence, consequences, and co-occurrence with other substances in a sample of youth (ages 18 to 19) exiting the foster care system. In the face of an overall decrease in tobacco use among general population adolescents and young adults, results suggest disproportionate levels of lifetime, recent, and daily use among foster youth. Prevalence of recent tobacco use (46%) is nearly triple national rates, while daily smoking (32%) is almost four times that of general population young adults. Tobacco users were more likely than non-users to drink (70% vs. 40%) and to smoke marijuana (72% vs. 25%). We strongly encourage researchers and practitioners to increase attention to this tobacco-related health disparity.