Journal of Environmental Health Sciences (한국환경보건학회지)

Korean Society of Environmental Health (한국환경보건학회)
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Secondhand Smoke Exposure in Commercial Personal Computer Rooms

PC 방 금연구역의 간접흡연 노출

  • Sohn, Hong-Ji (Graduate School of Public Health, Seoul National University) ;
  • Oh, Ae-Ri (Graduate School of Public Health, Seoul National University) ;
  • Kim, Ok-Gum (Graduate School of Public Health, Seoul National University) ;
  • Lee, Ki-Young (Graduate School of Public Health, Seoul National University)
  • 손홍지 (서울대학교 보건대학원 환경보건학과) ;
  • 오애리 (서울대학교 보건대학원 환경보건학과) ;
  • 김옥금 (서울대학교 보건대학원 환경보건학과) ;
  • 이기영 (서울대학교 보건대학원 환경보건학과)
  • Received : 2010.05.09
  • Accepted : 2010.08.12
  • Published : 2010.08.30
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Abstract

In this study, exposure to secondhand smoke (SHS) was evaluated in commercial personal computer (PC) rooms with different separation types of non-smoking areas. The particulate matter less than 2.5 ${\mu}m$ ($PM_{2.5}$) level was simultaneously measured by aerosol spectrometers in the non-smoking and smoking areas of these commercial PC rooms. Average $PM_{2.5}$ concentrations in non-smoking and smoking areas were $75\;{\mu}g/m^3$ and $136\;{\mu}g/m^3$, respectively. Although the $PM_{2.5}$ concentrations in non-smoking areas were significantly less than those in smoking areas (p<0.01), the levels still exceeded the US National Ambient Air Quality Standard of $35\;{\mu}g/m^3$. Average $PM_{2.5}$ concentrations in non-smoking areas were not significantly different with regard to area separation type, with $73\;{\mu}g/m^3$ in the no-wall type, $83\;{\mu}g/m^3$ in the wall-type, and $39\;{\mu}g/m^3$ in the separated-floor-type areas (p>0.1). Separation of the non-smoking area thus did not eliminate SHS exposure in commercial PC rooms, regardless of the type of area separation. This study demonstrates that simple separation of non-smoking areas in commercial PC rooms does not protect users from SHS.

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