ets exposure, lung cancer - Legacy Tobacco Documents Library

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PHILIP
WITCFECH . ht . D .
WMAN_' e . Furthermore, no valid evidence existsi
that acute ETS exposure exacerbates the condition of individual
witri underlying coronary heart disease, and one investigator
making such a claim has been discredited for falsification of
data . The available scientific data also do not suppor-t an
association between ETS exposure and harmful effects in the
elderly or the contention that exposure of pregnant women to Ei
adversely affects either the mother or the fetus .
To date, approximately seven published studies have examinqd
the acute effects of ETS exposure in asthmatic individuals, Nit
conflicting data . While three'studies have reported no adverse
effects, four have reported that acute US exposure precipitate
temporary worsening of airflow obstruction on pulmonary functio
testing in some (but not all) asthmatic subjects . These findings
suggest that a subgroup of asthmatics may have an increased
"sensitivity" to ETS . `i,kgi
ncerta i n a 1 t hntirrh t rLata ._i._r.: t~a~co~_~~
Since it is
known that asthma lc attacks can be precipitated by psychologic~l
cues (e .g ., emotional factors or odors) and its uniau.e odor mak s
it difficult to "blind" sub7ects 'to tobacco smoke ex.posure, the
role of psychological and emotional factors in responses of
asthratics remains to be determined .
.
ETS in Context - Indoor Air OualitY I
Although ETS receives a major share of attention among
indcor air pollutants, it is far from the only or even the raostl
important indoor air pollutant . A number of substances pollute~
the indoor air that we breathe . Many of these substances have
important potential adverse health effects, even though these
pollutants are less readily visible or otherwise detectable than
ETS, Some examples include nitrogen dioxide (2102) and other
oxides of nitrogen, sulphur dioxide (S02), ozone (03), carbon
moncxide (CQ), pathogenic and allergenic fungi, bacteria (e .g .,
Leaicn=lla pneumophilia, the cause of Legionnaire's Disease) anc~
viruses, various airborne pollens, dust mites and othe Ir
allergens, volatile organic compounds, and radon gas . Such
substances may pose risks of health impairment that are far
grea ;.er than any conceivably related to ETS, yet they receive
rela :.ively scant atzenticn, in part because their presence is
often undetected without the use of special analytical
techniqu^s, unlike ETS, which is readily visible and has a
distinctiva odor .
Tt is important that ti4: issue of ETS be considered in the! ~
overall cot .text of these other indoor air pollutants and tha ~ G
pot4 ~. :.iz1 h risks that to heal'- they ~ present . It is unLortunata ~ N
that ETS often serves as a"scapegoat" for such other air ~ ~
pollutants, especially since measures directed at elimination of ~
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