Secondhand Smoke Exposure at Building Entrances: A Public Health Concern

There is no safe level of exposure to tobacco smoke. Even brief exposure can trigger asthma attacks in children, and exposure can have immediate negative health impacts in adults including general respiratory and eye irritation, asthma symptoms, and cardiac effects, particularly for vulnerable individuals. With smokers congregating at building entrances, there is potential exposure to secondhand smoke as people enter and exit. This update summarizes findings of a study of real-time measurement of secondhand smoke at entrances to office buildings.