Secondhand smoke exposure in outdoor children's playgrounds in 11 European countries. (April 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Henderson, Elisabet; Continente, Xavier; Fernández, Esteve; Tigova, Olena; Cortés-Francisco, Nuria; Gallus, Silvano; Lugo, Alessandra; Semple, Sean; O'Donnell, Rachel; Clancy, Luke; Keogan, Sheila; Ruprecht, Ario; Borgini, Alessandro; Tzortzi, Anna; Vyzikidou, Vergina K; Gorini, Giuseppe; López-Nicolás, Angel; Soriano, Joan B; Geshanova, Gergana; Osman, Joseph; Mons, Ute; Przewozniak, Krzysztof; Precioso, José; Brad, Ramona; López, Maria J.
• Is Part Of: Environment international. Volume 149(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-04
• Subjects: Tobacco smoke pollution -- Child -- Playground -- Socioeconomic status -- Smoke-free regulations; SHS Secondhand smoke -- SES Socioeconomic status -- TCS Tobacco Control Scale -- LOQ Limit of Quantification -- IQR Interquartile Range; Environmental protection -- Periodicals; Environmental health -- Periodicals; Environmental monitoring -- Periodicals; Environmental Monitoring -- Periodicals; Environnement -- Protection -- Périodiques; Hygiène du milieu -- Périodiques; Environnement -- Surveillance -- Périodiques; Environmental health; Environmental monitoring; Environmental protection; Periodicals; 333.705
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2020.105775
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0160-4120

Abstract

Highlights: We measured nicotine and smoking sings in outdoor playgrounds in 11 EU countries. 41% of the sites had nicotine presence, levels being higher in deprived areas. 20% of the playgrounds had people smoking and 57% cigarette butts inside. SHS levels were higher in countries with lower tobacco control performance. SHS exposure was higher in countries with higher smoking prevalence. Abstract: Introduction: Tobacco presence in outdoor children's playgrounds is concerning not only because it leads to secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure, but also cigarette butt pollution and tobacco normalization. Objectives: This study aimed to assess SHS exposure in children's playgrounds, according to area-level socioeconomic status (SES), smoke-free regulations, national smoking prevalence, and SHS exposure prevalence in playgrounds (2017–2018). Methods: We monitored vapor-phase nicotine concentration and tobacco-related variables in 20 different playgrounds in 11 European countries (n = 220 measurements) from March 2017 to April 2018. Playgrounds were selected according to area-level SES. Data on the number of people smoking, and cigarette butts inside the playground and on playground surroundings (<1 m away) were recorded. Playground smoking bans, the Tobacco Control Scale (TCS) score, national smoking prevalence and SHS exposure prevalence in playgrounds were used to group countries. To determine nicotine presence, we dichotomized concentrations using the limit of quantification as a cut-off point (0.06 μg/m 3 ). Nicotine median concentrations were compared using non-parametric tests, and nicotine presence and tobacco-related observational variables using the Chi-squared test. Results: Airborne nicotine presence was found in 40.6% of the playgrounds. Median nicotine concentration was <0.06 μg/m 3 (Interquartile range: <0.06–0.125) and higher median concentrations were found in more deprived neighborhoods, non-regulated playgrounds, in countries with lower overall TCS scores, higher national smoking prevalence and higher SHS exposure prevalence in playgrounds. Overall, people were smoking in 19.6% of the playgrounds. More than half of playgrounds had cigarette butts visible inside (56.6%) and in the immediate vicinity (74.4%). Presence of butts inside playgrounds was higher in sites from a low area-level SES, in countries with low TCS scores, and greater smoking prevalence and SHS exposure prevalence (p<0.05). Conclusions: There is evidence of SHS exposure in children's playgrounds across Europe. These findings confirm the need for smoking bans in playgrounds and better enforcement in those countries with smoking bans in playgrounds.