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The Effects of Passive Cigarette Smoke Exposure on the Survival of the Reverse Sural Fasciocutaneous Flap

Sadagatullah AN, Halim AS, Bathusha MS, Ramachandran AK

J Hand Microsurg, 2017 Dec;9(3):120-125.
PMID: 29302135 DOI: 10.1055/s-0037-1605354

Background The possibility of a person who had undergone surgery to be exposed to the ill effects of cigarette smoke is high, more so if the person lives with a smoker. With increasing popularity of reverse sural fasciocutaneous flaps, a surgeon may have to manage a person who lives with a smoker or is exposed to cigarette smoke. A clear understanding of the effects of exposure to cigarette smoke on reverse sural fasciocutaneous flaps is necessary. This study was performed to establish a clearer understanding of the effects of smoking on reverse sural fasciocutaneous flaps and evidence for preoperative patient counseling about smoking and smoke exposure. Objective The study investigated effects of exposure to cigarette smoke on the survival of the reverse sural fasciocutaneous flap. Methods This was an experimental observational study conducted at the Laboratory for Animal Research Unit in the Health Campus of Universiti Sains Malaysia. Twelve adult White New Zealand rabbits ( Oryctolagus cuniculus ) were divided into two groups of six. All 12 rabbits had a 2.5- × 2.5-cm reverse sural fasciocutaneous flap raised on both its hind limbs. The group exposed to cigarette smoke underwent 4 weeks of smoke exposure for 2 hours daily prior to surgery. This was then continued until analysis of the results. The control group had no intervention. All flaps were analyzed on the seventh postoperative day, after tracing on transparent plastic sheets with the necrotic area marked followed by 2D planimetry done on a grid paper. The flaps were assessed on the total flap area and survival area percentage. It was recorded as mean ± SD. The presence or absence of infection and hematoma was also noted. Results Twelve flaps were analyzed in each group. Total mean flap area and survival area percentage of the control group were 120.33 ± 31.03 mm 2 and 80.12 ± 15.75%, respectively, whereas in the cigarette smoke-exposed group, it was 121.83 ± 17.93 mm 2 and 62.04 ± 34.01%, respectively. The control group had two infections and one hematoma, and the smoking-exposed group had six infections and nine hematomas. The comparison between the groups was made in terms of total flap area, survival percentage, presence of infection, and hematoma for which the p values were 0.886, 0.115, 0.083, and 0.003, respectively. The differences between right and left hind limbs were also analyzed ( p = 0.414). Conclusion There was no statistical difference in the results from the right and left hind limbs. There was no statistical difference in the survival of reverse sural fasciocutaneous flap between the control and smoking-exposed groups.

Matched MeSH terms: Tobacco Smoke Pollution*
The efficacy of smoking ban policy at the workplace on secondhand smoking: systematic review and meta-analysis

Rashiden I, Ahmad Tajuddin NANB, Yee A, Zhen STE, Bin Amir Nordin AS

Environ Sci Pollut Res Int, 2020 Aug;27(24):29856-29866.
PMID: 32483718 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-020-09407-7

Exposure to secondhand smoke (SHS) in the workplace has led many workplaces to set up smoke-free policies to protect non-smoking employees. Although smoke-free workplaces are pervasive, the intensity of the practice is questionable. The purpose of this review is to identify the pooled prevalence estimate of secondhand smoke at smoke-free workplaces and the factors associated with SHS exposure at the workplace despite existing smoke-free policies. Fourteen studies (total 7458 employees) were identified from Pubmed, ScienceDirect, Cinahl, Scopus, and Web of Science from inception to December 2017. Results indicate that despite the existence of smoke-free policies at the workplace, 14 studies reported exposure to secondhand smoke. The pooled prevalence of the SHS exposure was 0.29 (95% CI = 0.23 to 0.36) (P smoke at the smoke-free workplace. While most of the selected studies show the exposure of SHS within the smoking ban workplace, only two studies reported no exposure to secondhand smoke after implementation of smoke-free policies. Although the smoking ban policy at the workplace has been introduced, there are still a number of employees being affected by secondhand smoke. This indicates that there is still a gap of knowledge, attitude, and practice of non-smokers in strengthening the smoke-free policy at the workplace.

Matched MeSH terms: Tobacco Smoke Pollution*; Smoke-Free Policy*
Fulltext Aerodynamic study of a modern sepak takraw ball using Smoke flow visualization technique

Abdul Syakir Abdul Mubin, Norhafizan Ahmad

Movement Health & Exercise, 2015;4(2):19-30.
MyJurnal

It has been shown in previous studies that the flight trajectories of sports balls are influenced by their aerodynamic characteristics. These aerodynamic characteristics are primarily dependent on the physical shape and surface texture of the balls. Even though sepak takraw is well established as a sport, little is known regarding the aerodynamic characteristics of the sepak takraw ball, which has a rather complex shape and surface texture. Hence, the main objective of this research is to investigate the aerodynamic characteristics (specifically the drag and lift coefficients) and flow features of a modern sepak takraw ball commercially available in the market by means of numerical simulations and wind tunnel experiments using the smoke flow visualization technique. The aerodynamic characteristics and flow features of the ball are determined for non-spinning conditions at a wind speed of 3 m/s. It is found that the drag coefficient and lift coefficient of the sepak takraw ball is 0.4868400 and - 0.0130915, respectively. The images captured from the smoke flow visualization experiments reveal that the sepak takraw ball is in the subcritical flow regime at a wind speed of 3 m/s, which is the regime before the drag crisis. The laminar boundary layer separates from the upper and lower surfaces of the ball at points upstream of the equator of the ball, creating a large wake region downstream of the sepak takraw ball and resulting in high drag. This in turn, influences the trajectory of the sepak takraw ball in flight. The flow features observed from the smoke flow visualization experiments are representative of the flow during a sepak takraw game. Owing to the complexity of sepak takraw ball, it is recommended that the aerodynamic characteristics of the sepak takraw ball are investigated for spinning conditions in future studies.

Matched MeSH terms: Smoke
Fulltext Characterization of toxic metals in tobacco, tobacco smoke, and cigarette ash from selected imported and local brands in Pakistan

Ajab H, Yaqub A, Malik SA, Junaid M, Yasmeen S, Abdullah MA

ScientificWorldJournal, 2014;2014:413614.
PMID: 24672317 DOI: 10.1155/2014/413614

In this study, concentrations of Cd, Ni, Pb, and Cr were determined in tobacco, tobacco smoke-condensate, and cigarette ash for selected brands used in Pakistan. Smoking apparatus was designed for metal extraction from cigarette smoke. Samples were digested through microwave digester and then analyzed by flame atomic absorption spectrophotometer (FAAS). Higher concentration of Ni was detected in imported brands than the counterparts in the local brands. Pb levels were however higher in local brands while significant concentration of Cd was observed in both brands. For Cr, the level in tobacco of local brands was higher than their emitted smoke, whereas imported brands showed higher level in smoke than in tobacco. The cigarette ash retained 65 to 75% of the metal and about 25 to 30% went into the body. While this study revealed the serious requirement to standardize the manufacturing of tobacco products, more importantly is the urgent need for stronger enforcements to put in place to alert the general population about the hazardous effects of cigarettes and the health risks associated with these toxic metals.

Matched MeSH terms: Smoke/analysis*
Fulltext Second-hand smoke knowledge and exposure among adults in rural Pedas, Negeri Sembilan

Siew WF, Choo KJY, Lim ZX, Tsia AKV

International e-Journal of Science, Medicine & Education, 2017;11(3):20-29.
MyJurnal

Background: It is an undeniable fact that exposure to tobacco smoke from the ambiance poses harmful effects to human health. Although many countries including Malaysia have imposed smoking bans and restrictions in indoor and outdoor public places, yet, to achieve a zero exposure to tobacco smoke from one’s surroundings remains a challenge.
Objective: The objectives of this study were to determine the second-hand smoke (SHS) knowledge and percentage of exposure among adults of rural Pedas, Negeri Sembilan and assess the association between socio-demographics and knowledge of SHS among these adults.
Methods: A cross sectional study with convenient sampling was carried out on 485 adults in Pedas, Negeri Sembilan. The instrument used was a validated questionnaire which was adapted with permission to suit the sample under study. The data collected were analysed with SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 24.0.
Results: The percentage of SHS exposure among the non-smoking adults in rural Pedas, Negeri Sembilan was high (95.5%). More than 30% of the non-smoking respondents reported a daily exposure to SHS. The adults from this study however have good knowledge of SHS effects on health. A Mann-Whitney U test result revealed that knowledge on SHS scores was significantly higher for the non-smokers than that of smokers (U=17645, p < .001, r=.18). The top three locations identified as the most common places for SHS exposure were restaurants (38.9%), followed by workplace (26.2%) and home (19.4%).
Conclusions: The percentage of SHS exposure among the non-smoking adults of rural Pedas, Negeri Sembilan is high. Although the adults in this study have good knowledge of SHS health consequences, yet they are unavoidably exposed to SHS because smoking still occurs within their home, workplaces and public places. Our findings suggest the need for more comprehensive, assertive and strongly enforced policies to ban smoking in public areas, not only in this community but all across Malaysia.

Matched MeSH terms: Tobacco Smoke Pollution*
Fulltext Secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure at home and at the workplace among non-smokers in Malaysia: Findings from the Global Adult Tobacco Survey 2011

Lim KH, Lim HL, Teh CH, Kee CC, Heng PP, Cheah YK, et al.

Tob Induc Dis, 2018;16.
DOI: 10.18332/tid/95188

Introduction: Understanding the prevalence of secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure and the associated factors is beneficial for the formulation of effective measures to reduce exposure to SHS. The purpose of this study was to determine SHS exposure at home and workplace, and its associated factors among non-smoker Malaysian adults. Methods: Data were extracted from the Global Adult Tobacco Survey-Malaysia (GATS-M) that involved a representative sample of 5112 Malaysian adults. Logistic regression analyses were performed to examine the association between SHS exposure, sociodemographic factors, knowledge on the danger of SHS, and smoking restrictions at home and at work among non-smokers. Results: Among non-smoker Malaysians, age ≥15 years, 27.9% (equivalent to approximately 4.21 million non-smokers) and 33.9% (equivalent to approximately 1.37 million non-smokers) reported that they were exposed to SHS at home and the workplace, at least once a month, respectively. Women (AOR=2.12, 95% CI: 1.61.2.78), young individuals (AOR=3.06, 95% CI: 1.48.6.33), Malays (AOR=2.39, 95% CI: 1.56.3.64) or other Bumiputra ethnic groups (AOR=2.40, 95% CI: 1.39.4.19) and those who worked as other than government employees were more likely to report SHS exposure at home (non-government employee: AOR=1.88, 95% CI: 1.06.3.36). Respondents with a total smoking restriction at home did not report any SHS exposure at home. Similarly, those whose workplace had smoking restrictions were less likely to report SHS exposure at the work compared to their counterparts whose workplace had partial (AOR=3.08, 95% CI: 1.84.5.15) or no smoking restrictions (AOR=15.33, 95% CI: 6.75.34.86). Conclusions: A substantial proportion of Malaysian adults were exposed to SHS at home and at work. The findings emphasize the need for policies on smoking restrictions at work and the need to promote the adoption of a completely smoke-free home, among the Malaysian population.
Study name: Global Adults Tobacco Survey (GATS-2011)

Matched MeSH terms: Tobacco Smoke Pollution*
Fulltext A Fault Tolerant Surveillance System for Fire Detection and Prevention Using LoRaWAN in Smart Buildings

Safi A, Ahmad Z, Jehangiri AI, Latip R, Zaman SKU, Khan MA, et al.

Sensors (Basel), 2022 Nov 01;22(21).
PMID: 36366109 DOI: 10.3390/s22218411

In recent years, fire detection technologies have helped safeguard lives and property from hazards. Early fire warning methods, such as smoke or gas sensors, are ineffectual. Many fires have caused deaths and property damage. IoT is a fast-growing technology. It contains equipment, buildings, electrical systems, vehicles, and everyday things with computing and sensing capabilities. These objects can be managed and monitored remotely as they are connected to the Internet. In the Internet of Things concept, low-power devices like sensors and controllers are linked together using the concept of Low Power Wide Area Network (LPWAN). Long Range Wide Area Network (LoRaWAN) is an LPWAN product used on the Internet of Things (IoT). It is well suited for networks of things connected to the Internet, where terminals send a minute amount of sensor data over large distances, providing the end terminals with battery lifetimes of years. In this article, we design and implement a LoRaWAN-based system for smart building fire detection and prevention, not reliant upon Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi) connection. A LoRa node with a combination of sensors can detect smoke, gas, Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), propane, methane, hydrogen, alcohol, temperature, and humidity. We developed the system in a real-world environment utilizing Wi-Fi Lora 32 boards. The performance is evaluated considering the response time and overall network delay. The tests are carried out in different lengths (0-600 m) and heights above the ground (0-2 m) in an open environment and indoor (1st Floor-3rd floor) environment. We observed that the proposed system outperformed in sensing and data transfer from sensing nodes to the controller boards.

Matched MeSH terms: Smoke*
Fulltext Second-hand smoke exposure and psychological distress amongst non-smoking pregnant women in Malaysia

Siti Munira Yasin, Khairul Mizan Taib, Mohd Rodi Isa, Mohd Ariff Fadzil, Mohd Razilan Abdul Kadir

Pertanika Journal of Science & Technology, 2017;25(104):181-190.
MyJurnal

This study aimed to examine the association between second-hand smoke (SHS) exposure and psychological distress amongst non-smoking pregnant women. A cross-sectional study was used to obtain a representative sample of non-smoking pregnant women attending health clinics (n = 661) across six states in Malaysia. The duration of SHS exposure inside and outside the house was recorded from the participants. Psychological distress was assessed via General Health Questionnaire (GHQ12). The analyses were conducted using a logistic regression adjusted for demographic variables and other variables. Amongst non-smoking pregnant women, the prevalence of global SHS exposure and psychological distress was 80.4% and 64.2%, respectively. In the multivariate adjusted odds ratio (OR) models for psychological distress and the duration of SHS exposures, there was an OR of 1.04 (95% CI: 0.61-1.77) for individuals with SHS exposure of 1-4 hours/week, 0.44 (95% CI: 0.23-0.81) for SHS exposure of 5-14 hours/week and 0.84 (95% CI: 0.32-2.22) for exposures of >15 hours/week compared to those with no SHS exposure outside the home. Meanwhile, SHS exposure outside the house with the duration of 5-14 hours might have temporary calming effects against psychological distress. Nonetheless, more research is needed to ascertain this.

Matched MeSH terms: Tobacco Smoke Pollution*
Fulltext Perspective of a smoke-free home among second-hand smokers during pregnancy: a qualitative study

Mohd Asri IA, Abd Rani NA, Dzulkifli Z, Muhamad Jamil MI, Ahmad Saman MS, Yasin SM

Pertanika Journal of Science & Technology, 2017;25(104):191-204.
MyJurnal

Tobacco use is one of the largest causes of preventable diseases across the world. It is interesting to note that second-hand smoke exposure is a major public health problem in Malaysia. The objectives of this study are first, to explore the perspectives of pregnant mothers whose partners are smokers, and second, to explore barriers and facilitators to creating a smoke-free environment in their home. This study uses a qualitative method in analysing the experiences of 15 pregnant mothers taken from a specialist healthcare centre in Sungai Buloh, Malaysia. It discusses the perspectives of these pregnant mothers towards their partners’ smoking habits, as well as the barriers and facilitators in creating a smoke-free home. From the interviews, it became apparent that pregnant mothers despised their partners’ smoking habits due to smoke odour, lack of money, and poor health. The barriers in creating a smoke-free home include the attitude of the smoking spouse, difficulty in weaning off the habit, excessive encouragement by a spouse, difficultly in advising a smoking spouse, influences from friends, and wrong perceptions. Meanwhile, the facilitators towards creating a smoke-free home are illnesses developed through smoking, multiple reminders from family members, and nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) were perceived to work on certain smokers and habitual cues in quitting smoking. The transition process towards making homes smoke-free is complex and individualistic; healthcare professionals may need to tailor strategies to take into account the specific contexts of each individual. More education programmes on the impacts of smoking and second-hand smoke exposures to family members and smoking cessation are needed for both pregnant mothers and their smoking partners.
Study site: Gynaecology Clinic, public teaching hospital, Malaysia

Matched MeSH terms: Tobacco Smoke Pollution*
Fulltext The Effect of Second-Hand Smoke Exposure during Pregnancy on the Newborn Weight in Malaysia

Norsa'adah B, Salinah O

Malays J Med Sci, 2014 Mar;21(2):44-53.
PMID: 24876807 MyJurnal

There was strong evidence from studies conducted in developed countries that second-hand smoke (SHS) exposure is detrimental to the birth weight of newborn. This study was conducted to determine the effect of exposure to SHS smoke during pregnancy on the weight of newborns.

Matched MeSH terms: Smoke; Tobacco Smoke Pollution
Fulltext The support for smoke free policy and how it is influenced by tolerance to smoking - experience of a developing country

Rashid A, Manan AA, Yahya N, Ibrahim L

PLoS One, 2014;9(10):e109429.
PMID: 25338116 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0109429

This cross sectional survey was conducted to determine the support in making Penang UNESCO World Heritage Site (GTWHS) smoke free and to determine the influence of tolerance towards smoking on this support. This is the first phase in making Penang, Malaysia a smoke free state. A multistage sampling process was done to select a sample of respondents to represent the population of GTWHS. Attitude towards smoking was assessed using tolerance as a proxy. A total of 3,268 members of the community participated in the survey. A big majority (n = 2969; 90.9%) of the respondents supported the initiative. Support was lowest among the owners and residents/tenants, higher age groups, the Chinese, men, respondents who had poor knowledge of the places gazetted as smoke free, and respondents with poor knowledge of the health effects on smokers and on passive smokers. The odds (both adjusted and unadjusted) of not supporting the initiative was high among those tolerant to smoking in public areas. Tolerance towards smoking was associated with 80.3% risk of non-support in the respondents who were tolerant to smoking and a 57.2% risk in the population. Health promotion and education concerning the harm of tobacco smoke in Malaysia, which has mainly targeted smokers, must change. Health education concerning the risks of second hand smoke must also be given to non-smokers and efforts should be made to denormalize smoking.

Matched MeSH terms: Tobacco Smoke Pollution*; Smoke-Free Policy*
Forest fires cause pollution crisis in Asia

Swinbanks D

Nature, 1997 Sep 25;389(6649):321.
PMID: 9311764
Matched MeSH terms: Smoke
The effects of indoor environmental factors on respiratory illness in primary school children in Kuala Lumpur

Azizi BH, Henry RL

Int J Epidemiol, 1991 Mar;20(1):144-50.
PMID: 2066213 DOI: 10.1093/ije/20.1.144

The effects of indoor environmental factors on respiratory illness were studied in 15017-12 year old school children in Kuala Lumpur. Exposure to mosquito coil smoke for at least three nights a week was independently associated with asthma and persistent wheeze. Passive smoking, defined as sharing a bedroom with an adult smoker, was independently associated with a chest illness in the past year. No relationships were found between exposure to kerosene stoves, wood stoves, fumigation mat mosquito repellents or aerosol insecticides and respiratory illness. Host factors predictive of at least one respiratory outcome included family history of chest illness, history of allergy, male sex, hospitalization in the neonatal period and low paternal education. With 95% confidence, avoidance of regular exposure to mosquito coil smoke and passive smoking could reduce the prevalences of persistent wheeze, asthma and chest illness by up to 29%. Measurements of lung function confirmed the validity of questions pertaining to wheezing and asthma in the study questionnaire.

Matched MeSH terms: Smoke/adverse effects; Tobacco Smoke Pollution/adverse effects
Fulltext Maternal passive smoking and its effect on maternal, neonatal and placental parameters

Ramesh KN, Vidyadaran MK, Goh YM, Nasaruddin AA, Jammal ABE, Zainab S

Med J Malaysia, 2005 Aug;60(3):305-10.
PMID: 16379184

A study was undertaken to 1) determine the effects of tobacco smoke exposure on maternal and neonatal weight and body mass index (BMI) and placental weight, volume and surface area and 2) establish any correlations between the placental surface area, volume and weight with maternal and neonatal body weight and BMI in mothers exposed to cigarette smoke. A total of 154 full-term placentae, 65 from mothers exposed to tobacco smoke and 89 from non-exposed mothers were collected from Kuala Lumpur Maternity Hospital. The placental surface area was determined using a stereological grid, the volume by Scherle's method and the weight by using an electronic weighing machine. In general there were no differences in maternal, placental and neonatal parameters between the exposed and non-exposed groups. However, there were significant correlations between placental weight with maternal weight and maternal BMI in both exposed (r = 0.315; p = 0.013) and (r = 0.265; p = 0.038), and non-exposed (r = 0.224; p = 0.035) and (r = 0.241; p = 0.023) mothers. It was also found that the maternal weight on admission correlated significantly with placental weight in both Malay (r = 0.405; p = 0.020) and Indian (r = 0.553; p = 0.050) passive smokers. Correcting the placental parameters for the maternal weight had no effect on the results.

Matched MeSH terms: Tobacco Smoke Pollution/adverse effects*
Knowledge, attitudes and preventive efforts of Malaysian medical students regarding exposure to environmental tobacco and cigarette smoking

Frisch AS, Kurtz M, Shamsuddin K

J Adolesc, 1999 Oct;22(5):627-34.
PMID: 10527534 DOI: 10.1006/jado.1999.0258

A longitudinal study was conducted to determine changes in knowledge, attitudes and preventive efforts of Malaysian medical students concerning cigarette smoking and environmental exposure to tobacco smoke from their first pre-clinical year in medical school until their final clinical year. There were significant improvements in knowledge about cigarette smoking and in knowledge, attitudes and efforts concerning environmental exposure to tobacco smoke. Overall attitudes concerning cigarette smoking did not change over this period. The same pattern was found for male non-smokers. Women improved on all five scales; male smokers improved on none over the 3-year period. Male non-smokers had better scores on these scales than male smokers in both beginning and ending years. Women excelled in comparison to male non-smokers on smoking attitudes in the pre-clinical year and on all scales except preventive efforts in the final clinical year.Although medical students experienced no changes in the amount of pressures not to smoke from family and friends, there was a significant increase in the amount of prohibition on smoking from their teachers. Male non-smokers alone accounted for this increase. Women experienced more pressure than men not to smoke from their teachers in both years, but the male smokers and non-smokers did not differ in teacher pressure for either year.

Matched MeSH terms: Tobacco Smoke Pollution*
Health effects of tropical smoke

Mims FM

Nature, 1997 Nov 20;390(6657):222-3.
PMID: 9384366 DOI: 10.1038/36715
Matched MeSH terms: Smoke/adverse effects*
Developing and validating the Malay version instrument to assess knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding second-hand smoke in the workplace: a cross-sectional study in teaching hospital in Malaysia

Rashiden I, Ahmad Tajuddin NAN, Yee A, Amer Nordin AS

Environ Sci Pollut Res Int, 2021 Aug;28(32):44557-44564.
PMID: 33855660 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-13883-w

This research sought to develop and validate the "Workplace Second-hand Smoke: Perception on the SHS Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice" (WSHS: PAP) instrument, which targets non-smoking employees. A cross-sectional study was conducted between April and June 2018 to validate WSHS: PAP among non-smoking employees at Universiti Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC). Experts were invited to validate the instrument. Then, for exploratory factor analysis, a cross-sectional study was conducted among 336 UMMC non-smoking employees who were recruited by convenience sampling. A total of 28 items on KAP, rated on five-point Likert scales, underwent exploratory factor analysis and were tested for internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha). Participants were approached after 2 weeks for the assessment of test-retest reliability. Cronbach's alpha was 0.828, 0.743 and 0.837, respectively, for the domains of perception of the knowledge, attitude and practice, indicating acceptable internal consistency (above 0.7). Exploratory factor analysis identified a one-factor solution for each of the KAP domains. Therefore, the Malay version of the WSHS: PAP instrument demonstrated satisfactory psychometric properties for the assessment of non-smoking employees in workplaces with a smoking ban.

Matched MeSH terms: Tobacco Smoke Pollution*
Second-hand smoke in public spaces: how effective has partial smoke-free legislation been in Malaysia?

Abidin EZ, Hashim Z, Semple S

Asian Pac J Cancer Prev, 2013;14(11):6845-50.
PMID: 24377615

BACKGROUND: This study was performed to gather data on second-hand smoke (SHS) concentrations in a range of public venues following the implementation of partial Smoke-Free Legislation in Malaysia in 2004.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: PM2.5 was measured as a marker of SHS levels in a total of 61 restaurants, entertainment centres, internet cafes and pubs in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
RESULTS: Under the current smoke-free laws smoking was prohibited in 42 of the 61 premises. Active smoking was observed in nearly one-third (n=12) of these. For premises where smoking was prohibited and no active smoking observed, the mean (standard deviation) indoor PM2.5 concentration was 33.4 (23.8) μg/m3 compared to 187.1 (135.1) μg/m3 in premises where smoking was observed The highest mean PM2.5 was observed in pubs [361.5 (199.3) μg/m3].
CONCLUSIONS: This study provides evidence of high levels of SHS across a range of hospitality venues, including about one-third of those where smoking is prohibited, despite 8 years of smoke-free legislation. Compliance with the legislation appeared to be particularly poor in entertainment centres and internet cafes. Workers and non-smoking patrons continue to be exposed to high concentrations of SHS within the hospitality industry in Malaysia and there is an urgent need for increased enforcement of existing legislation and consideration of more comprehensive laws to protect health.

Matched MeSH terms: Tobacco Smoke Pollution/analysis*; Tobacco Smoke Pollution/legislation & jurisprudence*; Tobacco Smoke Pollution/prevention & control
Histological changes in male accessory reproductive organs in rats exposed to cigarette smoke and the protective effect of honey supplementation

Mohamed M, Sulaiman SA, Jaafar H

Afr J Tradit Complement Altern Med, 2012;9(3):329-35.
PMID: 23983363

The effect of cigarette smoke (CS) on histology of male accessory reproductive organs and the possible protective effect of honey supplementation in rats were investigated in this study. Rats received distilled water, honey, CS exposure or honey plus CS exposure. Honey (1.2 g/kg body weight/day) was administered by gavage and CS exposure (3 times per day) was done in a chamber for 13 weeks. CS exposure significantly increased relative weight of epididymis and ventral prostate. There were also significantly increased number of clear cells and epithelial height of cauda epididymis as well as severe interstitial oedema and decreased epithelial height of prostate gland. However, with the supplementation of honey, these histological changes were significantly reversed suggesting the protective effect of honey against the toxic effect of CS on male accessory reproductive organs in rats.

Matched MeSH terms: Smoke/adverse effects; Tobacco Smoke Pollution/adverse effects*
Fulltext Marijuana "bong" pseudomonas lung infection: a detrimental recreational experience

Kumar AN, Soo CI, Ng BH, Hassan T, Ban AY, Manap RA

Respirol Case Rep, 2018 02;6(2):e00293.
PMID: 29321937 DOI: 10.1002/rcr2.293

The use of Cannabis sativa, also known as marijuana, is believed to have dated back to thousands of years B.C. More than 200 decades later, it remains a popular recreational psychoactive substance that can be smoked through a water pipe. We report a case of marijuana smoking via a "bong" device, which has resulted in severe Pseudomonas aeruginosa necrotizing pneumonia treated with conservative medical therapy. This case highlights the importance of recognizing that life-threatening pneumonia can potentially be linked to marijuana and "bong" usage. Complicated cases should be considered for early surgical intervention.

Matched MeSH terms: Smoke

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