Discomfort Experienced Due to the Odor and Physiological Responses of Residual Tobacco Smoke Brought Into Workplaces by Smokers on Work Performance and Mental Health

Abstract

Background: The discomfort experienced due to residual tobacco smoke, a form of thirdhand smoke exposure brought into workplaces by smokers, and its health impacts on non-smokers have been inadequately investigated. This study explored associations between non-smokers’ discomfort and work performance and mental health.

Methods: This observational internet-based survey was conducted in 2021 as part of the Japan Society and New Tobacco Internet Survey. Participants comprised 6,519 adult workers without firsthand or secondhand smoking. Work performance and mental health were evaluated using the Work Functioning Impairment Scale (WFun) and Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K6), respectively. The proportion of participants who experienced discomfort from the residual tobacco smoke in their workplace by smokers in the previous year was calculated according to the workplace’s smoke-free policy, and the difference was assessed using the χ² test. The association between such discomfort and WFun and K6 scores was examined using univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses.

Results: Among respondents, 17.1% reported experiencing discomfort due to the residual tobacco smoke. A strict smoke-free workplace policy was associated with a lower proportion of respondents experiencing such discomfort (P < 0.001). Those who experienced discomfort more frequently had significantly higher scores on the WFun (15.5% “never”, 21.3% “sometimes”, 26.2% “frequently”) and K6 (37.8% “never”, 48.2% “sometimes”, 50.8% “frequently”). Adjusting for potential covariates in multivariable analyses did not change these results.

Conclusion: Discomfort from thirdhand smoke was associated with worse work performance and mental health problems. Promotion of strict smoke-free workplace policies is required to reduce such experiences.