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Indoor Air Quality: An Overview—Where Are We?
Published in H.E. Burroughs, Shirley J. Hansen, Managing Indoor Air Quality, 2020
H.E. Burroughs, Shirley J. Hansen
The list of problem or probable contaminating pollutants is long. Cigarette smoke alone is known to contain 4,700 chemical compounds, including several that have been shown to be highly toxic in animal tests, and 43 suspected carcinogenic compounds. This prompted scrutiny by EPA who developed a white paper with particular focus on second hand smoke or “environmental tobacco smoke” (ETS). In addition to establishing ETS as a potential carcinogen and an indoor contaminant of concern for young children, the document provoked the proposed OSHA ruling of ‘94 and the subsequent tobacco litigation and local jurisdictional regulations. The ruling was buried in negative comment and was never promulgated. However, building owners united with local authorities and reacted with self regulation and generally banned smoking in public spaces. As a result, ETS is no longer as widespread an indoor contaminant of concern. The chapter on classifying IAQ problems discusses all the major indoor pollutants.
IAQ Hazards to Human Health and Productivity
Published in Ed Bas, Indoor Air Quality, 2020
After secondhand cigarette smoke was classified a group A carcinogen—one of only 15 such pollutants, including asbestos, radon and benzene—the U.S. EPA was unequivocal in its report, “Setting the Record Straight: Secondhand Smoke is a Preventable Health Risk.” Every year, according to the report, an estimated 150,000-300,000 children under 18 months of age get pneumonia or bronchitis from breathing secondhand tobacco smoke. Secondhand smoke is a risk factor for the development of asthma in children and worsens the condition of up to one million asthmatic children. The U.S. EPA “absolutely stands by its scientific and well-documented report … Virtually every one of the arguments about lung cancer advanced by the tobacco industry and its consultants was addressed by the [Science Advisory Board]. The panel concurred in the methodology and unanimously endorsed the conclusions of the final report.”
Environmental Disease
Published in Gary S. Moore, Kathleen A. Bell, Living with the Earth, 2018
Gary S. Moore, Kathleen A. Bell
Cancer develops from multiple mutations in the DNA, often in the genes producing proteins that control cell division. Some of these genes are tumor suppressor genes, which produce proteins that can repair defective cells or help destroy damaged cells. When these genes undergo mutation, the DNA repair system breaks down. In a typical pathway leading to cancer, a chemical agent such as benzo(a)pyrene (BP), associated with smoking cigarettes, combines with human DNA to form an adduct (carcinogenic residues bound to DNA) that leads to increased mutations that eventually accumulate and lead to cancer. The smoke from cigarettes contains as many as 4,000 compounds with more than 40 of these known to be carcinogenic. Included among these are BP, benzene, and arsenic. The act of smoking (or being exposed to passive smoke) brings these substances into intimate contact with the delicate tissue of the respiratory tract. Other defective genes (such as ras) produce proteins that inappropriately stimulate cell division. Collectively, these cancer-causing genes are called oncogenes.
The World Trade Center Health Program: Smoking cessation
Published in Archives of Environmental & Occupational Health, 2023
Gerald Lilly, Geoffrey M. Calvert
Cigarette smoking is the leading cause of preventable disease, disability, and death in the United States with a smoking prevalence of 12.5% in 2020; however, smoking is not equally prevalent across the population with higher smoking rates found among specific subgroups (e.g., persons with low socioeconomic status, persons with mental illness, and persons belonging to racial/ethnic minority groups).2,3 Cigarette smoking causes at least 12 types of cancer, including acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and cancers of the oral cavity and pharynx; esophagus; stomach; colon and rectum; liver; pancreas; larynx; lung, bronchus, and trachea; kidney and renal pelvis; urinary bladder; and cervix.3 Approximately 80-90% of lung cancer deaths are attributable to cigarette smoking, and smoking increases the risk for both physical and mental health problems.3 Furthermore, smoking exacerbates many WTC Health Program-covered conditions, including all covered aerodigestive disorders.3,4 Smoking impacts nearly every organ system of the body and has been causally linked to multiple chronic diseases including COPD, cardiovascular disease including heart disease and stroke, and type 2 diabetes.3
Factors associated with infertility among the Lebanese population: a cross-sectional study
Published in International Journal of Environmental Health Research, 2023
Nada Dia, Sara Mansour, Zelal Kharaba, Bassem Malaeb, Abir Sarray El Dine, Sally Kokash, Suzanne Nasser, Souheil Hallit, Diana Malaeb
The prevalence and the pattern of infertility are determined by a plethora of variables as socio-demographic characteristics, biological factors, disease states, and medications intake. Age is one of the non-modifiable risk factors that does not affect only the time to achieve a successful pregnancy but also influences the development of the child. (Bayrampour et al. 2012) Obesity defined as body mass index (BMI) of at least 30 kg/m2, is a modifiable risk factor that is associated with ovulatory disorders, decreased implantation in females, and oligospermia in males. (Esmaeilzadeh et al. 2013; Talmor and Dunphy 2015; Craig et al. 2017) In addition to age and obesity, there are other risk factors that can have an influential effect on infertility as smoking, alcohol, and diet. (Rossi et al. 2014) A well-balanced diet and nutritional status play a vital role in achieving fertility. (Chavarro et al. 2007) Specifically, the diet that must be followed to favour the achievement of fertility, must be low in trans-fat and animal protein, rich in monounsaturated fat, and high in fiber content and vegetables. (Rossi et al. 2014) In addition, alcohol can exert a potential effect on conception through hormonal abnormality and irregular ovulation cycles. (Gill 2000) Smoking has been associated with detrimental effect on reproductive function through the toxic components released from cigarettes which induce intrafollicular oxidative stress. (Paszkowski et al. 2002) Furthermore, smoking has been shown to impair semen quality and damage the ovarian cells. (Mitra et al. 2012)
Oxidative stress links the tumour suppressor p53 with cell apoptosis induced by cigarette smoke
Published in International Journal of Environmental Health Research, 2022
Qing Song, Zi-Jing Zhou, Shan Cai, Yan Chen, Ping Chen
Lung function is an important criterion for evaluating mice emphysema models. The present study showed that lung function decreased significantly in mice exposed to cigarette smoke, however, Pifithrin-α and NAC could improve the lung function. Oxidative stress is an important phenomenon in harmful gas and heavy metals induced toxicity (Wang et al. 2009). Excess lead caused the increase of MDA, the decrease of CAT, SOD and T-AOC, as well as oxidative stress in chicken bursa of fabricius (Jiao et al. 2017). After ammonia poisoning in chicken, SOD decreased, MDA increased, and oxidative stress occurred in heart (Xing et al. 2019). Cigarette smoke is a harmful gas and the biggest risk factor for COPD as it destroys the oxidant/antioxidant balance system in lung tissue. This result in an increase in oxidative stress and a promotion of lung tissue deterioration (Stanojkovic et al. 2011; Boukhenouna et al. 2018). Our findings showed that the MDA was increased, while the SOD, CAT and T-AOC were decreased in the lung tissue of mice exposed to cigarette smoke. It suggests that oxidative stress is one of the mechanisms involved in emphysema and COPD pathogenesis.