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Inmate exposure to secondhand smoke in correctional facilities and the impact of smoking restrictions

Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology volume 15, pages 205–211 (2005)Cite this article

Abstract

This study was undertaken to measure the passive smoking exposure of prisoners at three correctional facilities in the US and to evaluate the effectiveness of a ban on smoking in reducing these exposures at two of these facilities. The average weekly concentration of nicotine was measured in fixed locations within the correctional facilities using passive samplers. Samples were collected before and after a smoking ban was instituted, and after the policy was modified to allow smoking outdoors. Samples were collected in the living areas, near where inmates slept and watched TV, and in selected central facilities, including dining halls, visiting rooms, booking areas, and learning centers. Average weekly concentrations of nicotine were measured in 84 locations while smoking was allowed; changes in these concentrations were measured with 112 weekly samples 4 and 9 months after the policy restricting smoking was implemented The average concentrations of nicotine were high while smoking was allowed: most living and sleeping areas averaged 3–11 μg/m3, but the gym that was used as a bunkroom averaged 25 μg/m3; these values compare to an average of 2 μg/m3 in the homes of smokers. The smoking ban significantly reduced nicotine concentrations in the living areas (P<0.01 at facility A and P<0.05 at facility B) to averages of 1.5–2.2 μg/m3; all postban samples were less than 5 μg/m3. In conclusion, secondhand smoke concentrations in correctional facilities can be quite high; however, policies banning smoking are effective in reducing, but not eliminating, these exposures.

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Acknowledgements

This research was supported in part by The American Cancer Society. We thank Mr. Richard Turner, Director of Operations for the Vermont Correctional Department, and Christine Finley, Deputy Commissioner of Health at the time of these studies, for their cooperation and suggestions throughout the study; Professor John Hughes of the University of Vermont for suggesting the study to us; Louis Jay Rouleau for performing the laboratory analyses; and Karen Fondacaro and John Holt for assistance in sampling.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Public Health, University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, California, USA

    S Katharine Hammond

  2. Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, USA

    Karen M Emmons

  3. Harvard School of Public Health, USA

    Karen M Emmons

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  1. S Katharine Hammond
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  2. Karen M Emmons
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Correspondence to S Katharine Hammond.

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Hammond, S., Emmons, K. Inmate exposure to secondhand smoke in correctional facilities and the impact of smoking restrictions. J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol 15, 205–211 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.jea.7500387

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