PERCEPTUAL AND PSYCHOPHYSIOLOGICAL RESPONSES OF NONSMOKERS TO A RANGEOF ENVIRONMENTAL TOBACCO-SMOKE CONCENTRATIONS

To estimate the perceptual, psychophysiological and cognitive impact o f environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) on non-smokers, seventeen male nev er-smokers, ages 21-33, were exposed to five concentrations yielding m ean ETS-respirable suspended particles (RSP) levels of 58, 113, 217, 3 68, and 765 mu g/m(3). During each 90-minute session, four smokers wer e seated behind a partition and smoked, when cued, to generate 70-minu te exposures. For control exposures, smokers ''puffed'' on unlit cigar ettes. 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 le vel. Fatigue was not affected by any ETS level. Odor Strength (rated h ighest of all attributes at all levels) at the 217 mu g/m(3) ETS-RSP l evel was 12.5% of the maximum odor intensity experienced prior to the study. No effect of ETS on information processing was observed. Psycho logical state and eye blink rate were affected at only the 765 mu g/m( 3) ETS-RSP level. During times when the participants were not completi ng a questionnaire or test, all ETS levels resulted in a 5-8% decrease in respiratory rate, due largely to an increase in expiratory duratio n, but no change in minute ventilation. The breathing changes may repr esent a psychophysiological response mediated by the olfactory system. Non-smokers are aware of ETS at ETS-RSP concentrations as low as 58 m u g/m(3) (similar to 80-fold higher than the level typical of current U.S. workplace environments where smoking is permitted) but its sensor y impact remains relatively small until ETS-RSP concentrations above 2 17 mu g/m(3) are encountered.