Indoor Air Pollution, Tobacco Smoke, and Public Health

An experimental and theoretical investigation is made into the range and nature of the exposure of the nonsmoking public to respirable suspended particulates from cigarette smoke. A model incorporating both physical and sociological parameters is shown to be useful in understanding particulate levels from cigarette smoke in indoor environments. Observed levels of particulates correlate with the predictions of the model. It is shown that nonsmokers are exposed to significant air pollution burdens from indoor smoking. An assessment of the public health policy implications of these burdens is presented.