USE OF A 24-HOUR RECALL DIARY TO ASSESS EXPOSURE TO ENVIRONMENTAL TOBACCO-SMOKE

Methods to assess exposure to environmental tobacco smoke need to be v alid and relatively easy to use. We therefore explored the use of a 24 -h environmental tobacco smoke exposure-recall diary by comparing data from the 24-h diary with questionnaire responses and levels of saliva ry cotinine - a biochemical marker of environmental tobacco smoke expo sure. A total of 875 nonsmokers at five Rhode Island worksites partici pated in the study. Twenty-five percent of the participants lived with smokers, and 96% had regular exposure to environmental tobacco smoke at work. individuals who lived with smokers reported more exposures in the 24-h diary, both outside of work and during work hours, compared with those who had no smokers in their household. The correlation betw een saliva cotinine concentrations and the exposures recorded in the d iary was weak (r = .10). Brief instruments for assessment of environme ntal tobacco smoke should be viewed cautiously, and use of this 24-h r ecall diary is not recommended.