Using data from a 1988-1994 national health and nutrition survey, researchers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) investigated exposure to secondhand smoke in the workplace. The research involved 4,952 workers aged 17 and older who were nonsmokers and had no exposure to cigarette smoke at home.

For the study, the researchers measured the amount of cotinine, a breakdown product of nicotine, in workers in seven job categories. Cotinine levels are used to determined the degree of exposure to secondhand smoke.

Overall, the study found that workplace exposure to secondhand smoke has been greatly reduced through smoking bans and other restrictions. According to the research, the average cotinine levels in workers from 1991-1994 were lower than in 1988-1991. In addition, the percentage of individuals who said they smelled smoke at work decreased from 39 percent from 1988-1991 to 25 percent in 1991-1994.

Researchers said the decreases "are consistent with changes in formal policies during the same time period."

However, the study also found that blue-collar or service workers continue to be at a greater risk for passive smoking than white-collar employees.

The researchers found that those working in the farming, forestry, and fishing industries had the lowest levels of cotinine in their urine. On the other hand, operators, fabricators, and laborers had the highest urine-cotinine levels.

In the service industry, the study found that waiters, waitresses, and non-construction workers had the highest levels of cotinine in their urine, while farm and nursery workers and teachers had the lowest levels.

The study's findings are published in the June 2002 issue of the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine.

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