The legal regulations and cultural environment for smoking bans in hotels and motels in South Korea differ depending on the type of accommodation. The aim of this study was to assess the thirdhand smoke exposure for hotel and motel guests staying at accommodations who are expected to be relatively vulnerable to thirdhand smoke. Biomarkers for 28 participants were assessed before and after lodging at a hotel or motel for approximately 14 h. Hotel participants had statistically decreased urinary cotinine concentrations after their stay, whereas motel participants experienced increased concentrations. The concentration of nicotine-derived nitrosamine ketone in dust in hotels was lower than that in motels, and the higher dust nicotine-derived nitrosamine ketone concentration in motels had more effect on an increase in urinary cotinine concentration. Both hotels and motels legally allowed smoking in guest rooms. However, the study participants in hotels were less exposed to thirdhand smoke than those in motels.

Objectives: It is especially difficult for hospitality workers to avoid secondhand smoke (SHS), meaning that they are likely particularly vulnerable to the effects of SHS. The authors aimed to determine the degree to which smoke-free laws protect hospitality workers from SHS exposure, by examining biochemical markers of such exposure. Material and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study examining SHS exposure in non-smoking employees working in hospitality settings where smoking is prohibited or permitted. The following biomarkers were selected: cotinine and tobacco-specific nitrosamines, which are known to measure SHS exposure, and 2 representative carcinogens: 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanol and 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK). The authors compared these biomarkers between 3 hospitality settings. A descriptive analysis was performed. In addition, they conducted 1-way and 2-way analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) to compare the biochemical markers. Results: Smoking substances were identified by smoking ban levels. In the case of hair nicotine and urine cotinine. their concentrations were lower in areas with a complete smoking ban than in both areas with a separate smoking room and no smoking ban: however, there was no statistically significant difference between these. In the case of dust NNK, its level was the lowest in areas with a complete smoking ban. To confirm the smoking ban effect by hospitality settings, the authors checked the results of the 2-way ANCOVA. In karaoke and billiard halls, the dust NNK concentrations were significantly higher in areas with no smoking ban than in areas with a separate smoking room. Conclusions: Exposure to SHS is more prevalent in places that are more lenient when it comes to smoking (e.g., Internet cafes) than in places that are not (e.g., restaurants and cafes), even when smoking is similarly prohibited in both types of places.

INTRODUCTION To evaluate the level of tobacco smoke exposure in taxis in Korea using tobacco specific environmental markers. METHODS From June to September 2012, cross-sectional measurements of air nicotine levels and dust nicotine-derived nitrosamine ketone (NNK) concentrations were conducted in 17 taxis in Goyang, Korea. Field investigators completed an observational questionnaire on building characteristics, smoking policies and evidence of smoking. Descriptive statistics including geometric means (GMs) ± standard deviations were produced for air nicotine levels and dust NNK concentrations. RESULTS There was no evidence of active smoking in the 17 taxis monitored, despite the fact that 10 drivers were current smokers. The overall GMs of air nicotine and dust NNK concentration were 0.42 μg/m3 and 6.78 pg/mg, respectively. These levels were 3.4-fold and 2.6-fold higher in taxis whose drivers were current smokers compared to the taxis of nonsmokers (GM of air nicotine: 0.65 μg/m3 vs 0.19 μg/m3; GM of dust NNK: 10.07 pg/mg vs 3.85 pg/mg). CONCLUSIONS The present study shows that air nicotine and dust NNK were detected in all taxis regardless of whether the taxi driver was smoking or not, which indicates the potential for exposure to SHS or THS. It suggests that an appreciable level of SHS and TSH exposure might occur if the environment is not completely smoke-free and enforcement is lacking. ABBREVIATIONS THS: third-hand smoke, SHS: second-hand smoke, FCTC: Framework Convention Alliance for Tobacco Control, NNK: 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone, LOD: limit of detection, GM: geometric mean, GSD: geometric standard deviation.