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Excerpts from: Las Vegas dealers scrutinized for effects of second-hand smoke

By Environmental News Network  ENN.com   [09/13/01]

Nevada researchers are about to invade the casinos of Las Vegas, not
in search of jackpots but in search of nonsmoking dealers suffering the
harmful effects of the indoor air pollutant second-hand smoke. Most
workers no longer have to bear exposure to second-hand smoke on the
job, but the casinos' focus on fun makes it unlikely that smokers will be
asked to take it outside.

Researchers from the University of Nevada, Reno and the School of
Medicine have been given the go-ahead from the National Institutes of
Health to recruit 375 nonsmoking casino dealers in Las Vegas for a
clinical study on the effects of second-hand smoke.

Dr. Chris Pritsos, chairman of the university's Department of Nutrition,
was awarded a $2.3 million grant by the National Institutes of Health
for a four-year clinical trial. He aims to find out whether the
environmental exposure casino workers face at work increases the risk
of cardiovascular disease and cancer.

The four-year trial, the first major study on environmental tobacco
smoke related to workplace exposure, follows a preliminary study
Pritsos conducted in 1997 that showed promising evidence that
antioxidant supplements might provide some protection against
second-hand smoke.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency defines environmental
tobacco smoke as both exhaled mainstream smoke from smokers and
sidestream smoke from the end of a cigarette, cigar, or pipe. "Many of
the compounds in tobacco smoke are released at higher rates in
sidestream smoke than in mainstream smoke," the EPA says.

Pritsos will attempt to determine the level of environmental tobacco
smoke exposure and cancer and cardiovascular risk factors from workers'
blood.

The 375 volunteers will be split into three groups: one taking low daily
doses of Vitamin E and C and the mineral selenium; the second group
taking moderate levels of these supplements; and the third group
taking a placebo. The participants will continue taking the daily
supplements for two years.

Sachiko St. Jeor, professor of nutrition, and Michael Pelton, internal
medicine professor, both with the university's School of Medicine, are
collaborators with Pritsos on the study.

A 1994 study by the EPA concluded, "The evidence is clear and
consistent: second-hand smoke is a cause of lung cancer in adults who
don't smoke." Second-hand smoke contains strong irritants and
sensitizers and many adults as well as children suffer irritation and
other acute effects whenever they are exposed to second-hand smoke.

The University of Nevada, Reno says research has shown that
second-hand smoke claims the lives of as many as 60,000 nonsmoking
Americans each year by contributing to lethal ailments such as coronary
heart disease, lung cancer, bronchitis, and sudden infant death
syndrome.

In a July 25 report titled "Acute Effects of Passive Smoking on the
Coronary Circulation in Healthy Young Adults," the Journal of the
American Medical Association said, "Passive smoking substantially
reduced CFVR (coronary flow velocity reserve) in healthy nonsmokers.
This finding provides direct evidence that passive smoking may cause
endothelial dysfunction of the coronary circulation in nonsmokers."

Second-hand smoke is considered an asthma trigger especially for
children. The EPA says many of the health effects of second-hand
smoke, including asthma, are most clearly shown in children. While
children are not allowed in the casinos, they are allowed in restaurants
and other entertainment areas adjacent to the casinos where
second-hand smoke may circulate.

Some casinos, such as the Rio, have small nonsmoking areas on the
casino floor, but most do not restrict smoking. Many, such as the
Bellagio, clear the air with expensive air conditioners and air filters.

Dealers who participate in the study must be older than 25 and work in
a Las Vegas casino at least 20 hours a week. They must be nonsmokers
who do not live with a smoker.