Background:Prevention is the most cost effective component of any cancer control program. This is of even greater significance in resource limited settings. Tobacco is the main cause of cancer related deaths. Second-hand smoke (SHS) contributes to this.
Aim:This pilot study was conducted to assess impact of cigarette smoking on the air quality in Nigerian public places, to provide baseline data for the design and conduct of more elaborate studies and to inform the Nigerian national debate.
Methods:A TSI SidePak AM510 Personal Aerosol Monitor(TSI, Inc., St. Paul, MN) was used to sample and record the levels of the Respirable Suspended Particles (RSP) in the air at 9 locations in two Nigerian cities.
Results: The locations where smoking was not permitted had a range of PM2.5 levels from 9 to 27µg/ m3. Locations with active smoking or obvious air pollution had PM2.5 levels from 38 to 1063 µg/ m3.
Conclusions: The data in this study demonstrates that the degree of air pollution is dependent on the magnitude of cigarette smoking in a confined place. The greatest air pollution level was recorded in a crowded night club where there was heavy smoking. It illustrates the critical need to ensure that the public is protected from the toxicity of cigarette smoke.