Trends in the Prevalence of Exposure to e-Cigarette aerosol in Public Places among US Middle and high School Students, 2015 to 2018.

ntroduction:
This text is a summary of a research letter published in JaMa Network Open on the trends and factors associated with exposure to secondhand smoke (ShS) from combusted tobacco and secondhand aerosol (Sha) from e-cigarettes among US youth. The study uses data from the National Youth Tobacco Survey from 2015 to 2018. The summary includes the study design, major findings, and policy implications.

Key Points:

* The study found that between 2015 and 2018, approximately half of US middle school and high school students reported ShS exposure in the preceding 30 days, with a significant downward trend in 2017 and 2018.
* Prevalence of Sha exposure increased from approximately 1 of 4 students between 2015 and 2017 to 1 of 3 students in 2018.
* Young women, non-hispanic white individuals, participants who used e-cigarettes ever or in the past 30 days, participants who used other tobacco products in the past 30 days, and those who live with someone who used e-cigarettes were more likely to be exposed to ShS and Sha.
* Youth who live with someone who used other tobacco products had higher odds of ShS exposure.
* high school students had higher odds of Sha exposure.
* The study suggests that surveillance of Sha exposure trends, education about potential Sha harms for parents and youth, and interventions to reduce youth vaping are needed to protect young people from being exposed to all forms of tobacco product emissions, including from e-cigarettes.

Main Message:
The study highlights the increasing trend in exposure to Sha among US youth and the need for policy interventions to regulate e-cigarette use in public places. The study emphasizes the importance of clean air laws, surveillance of Sha exposure trends, and education about potential Sha harms for parents and youth. The study also highlights the need for interventions to reduce youth vaping. Overall, the study emphasizes the need for a comprehensive approach to regulate e-cigarette use and protect young people from the harms of tobacco product emissions.

Tan aSL, Bigman Ca, Mello S, Sanders-Jackson a. Trends in the Prevalence of Exposure to e-Cigarette aerosol in Public Places among US Middle and high School Students, 2015 to 2018. JaMa network open. 2019;2(8):1. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2019.10184