Volume 7, Issue 3 pp. 173-188
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Perceptual and Psychophysiological Responses of Non-smokers to a Range of Environmental Tobacco Smoke Concentrations

James C. Walker

Corresponding Author

James C. Walker

Research and Development, R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., 950 Reynolds Blvd., Winston-Salem, NC 27102-1487, U. S. A.

4 Author to whom correspondence should be addressed: telephone (910 741 2200), fax (910 741 0719) or email ([email protected] or [email protected])Search for more papers by this author
Paul R. Nelson

Paul R. Nelson

Research and Development, R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., 950 Reynolds Blvd., Winston-Salem, NC 27102-1487, U. S. A.

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William S. Cain

William S. Cain

Department of Surgery (Otolaryn-gology), University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093-0957, U. S. A.

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Mark J. Utells

Mark J. Utells

Pulmonary and Critical Care, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642, U. S. A.

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Marian B. Joyce

Marian B. Joyce

Research and Development, R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., 950 Reynolds Blvd., Winston-Salem, NC 27102-1487, U. S. A.

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Walter T. Morgan

Walter T. Morgan

Research and Development, R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., 950 Reynolds Blvd., Winston-Salem, NC 27102-1487, U. S. A.

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Thomas J. Steichen

Thomas J. Steichen

Research and Development, R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., 950 Reynolds Blvd., Winston-Salem, NC 27102-1487, U. S. A.

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Walter S. Pritchard

Walter S. Pritchard

Research and Development, R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., 950 Reynolds Blvd., Winston-Salem, NC 27102-1487, U. S. A.

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Melanie W. Stancill

Melanie W. Stancill

Research and Development, R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., 950 Reynolds Blvd., Winston-Salem, NC 27102-1487, U. S. A.

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First published: 22 April 2004
Citations: 19

Abstract

Abstract To estimate the perceptual, psychophysiological and cognitive impact of environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) on non-smokers, seventeen male never-smokers, ages 21–33, were exposed to five concentrations yielding mean ETS-respirable suspended particles (RSP) levels of 58, 113, 217, 368, and 765 μg/m3. During each 90-minute session, four smokers were seated behind a partition and smoked, when cued, to generate 70-minute exposures. For control exposures, smokers “puffed” on unlit cigarettes. Odor Strength, Annoyance, Overall Acceptance and Eye Irritation at the lowest level were significantly different from control values and the degree of change generally increased monotonically with ETS level. Fatigue was not affected by any ETS level. Odor Strength (rated highest of all attributes at all levels) at the 217 μg/m3 ETS-RSP level was 12.5% of the maximum odor intensity experienced prior to the study. No effect of ETS on information processing was observed. Psychological state and eye blink rate were affected at only the 765 μg/m3 ETS-RSP level. During times when the participants were not completing a questionnaire or test, all ETS levels resulted in a 5–8% decrease in respiratory rate, due largely to an increase in expiratory duration, but no change in minute ventilation. The breathing changes may represent a psychophysiological response mediated by the olfactory system. Non-smokers are aware of ETS at ETS-RSP concentrations as low as 58 μg/m3 (˜80-fold higher than the level typical of current U.S. workplace environments where smoking is permitted) but its sensory impact remains relatively small until ETS-RSP concentrations above 217 μg/m3 are encountered.

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