Abstract

The effects of exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (passive smoking) on pulmonary function of non-smoking, healthy Iranian men (n = 167) and women (n = 108) were investigated. There were significant reductions in % predicted FEV1 (5.7%), forced vital capacity (FVC, 4.6%) and forced expiratory flow 25-75% (FEF25-75, 9.9%) among men exposed to cigarette smoke (n = 78). The adverse effect of passive smoking was greatest among men exposed at the workplace (reduction in % predicted FEV1 9.4%, FVC 7.6%, and FEF25-75 15.3%). No significant difference in pulmonary function was found among the 54 women exposed to passive smoke, but only eight women had smoke exposure at work. It is concluded that exposure to environmental tobacco smoke, particularly at the workplace, adversely affects the pulmonary function of adults.