indoor public facilities ban cigarette smoking as a
means to reduce exposure to environmental ciga-
rette smoke. Some municipalities in the United
States have banned all indoor smoking in loca-
tions open to the public.
One measure of cigarette smoke exposure is the
blood cotinine level. The body produces cotinine
when it breaks down (metabolizes) NICOTINE, the
active chemical ingredient of TOBACCO. Researchers
believe that while cotinine itself presents no
health risk, it provides an accurate measure of
exposure to other chemicals, many of which are
carcinogenic (cancer-causing), that are present in
cigarette smoke. Cotinine is among the chemical
federal agencies monitor to assess the health risks
of ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARD EXPOSURE.
See also ANTISMOKING EFFORTS; INDOOR AIR QUAL-
ITY; LIFESTYLE AND HEALTH; RADON EXPOSURE; SMOKING
AND CANCER; SMOKING AND CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE;
SMOKING AND HEALTH.
ergonomics The interactions between people
and their physical environments can support or
challenge health. The primary role of ergonomics
in health is to prevent injuries, particularly mus-
culoskeletal injuries that result from repetitive
motions, by identifying interactions that present a
risk for injury and implementing interventions to
mitigate the risk. Ergonomic interventions may be
as simple as rearranging the work area to put
commonly used items within easy reach or may
require specialized devices and equipment such as
telephone headsets, curved handles on tools,
nonglare screens for computers, and implements
designed specifically for left-handed use.
Ergonomics also evaluates the movements and
actions of commonly performed tasks to minimize
the risk of overuse to recommend improved meth-
ods and techniques. Many job tasks have evolved
without formalized attention to the movements
they require, with the consequence that employ-
ees develop habits for performing the tasks that
may not be ergonomically sound. Actions that
cause continual reaching across the body, for
example, create repetitive stress for the shoulders,
back, and neck. Changing the pattern of move-
ment to use the other hand or rearranging the
work area to eliminate cross-reaching can signifi-ergonomics 23ERGONOMICS-RELATED HEALTH CONDITIONSHealth Condition Common Tasks Remedies
CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME typing, keyboarding, production line, proper technique, ergonomically designed
retail scanner keyboard, frequent movement to stretch
fingers and rotate wrists
EYE STRAIN computer work, watching security eyeglasses to accommodate midrange vision,
monitors, reading, inadequate or frequent looking away from task to change
inappropriate lighting focal distance, proper lighting
HEADACHE noise exposure, bright lights improved ventilation and airflow
lowBACK PAIN twisting, bending, lifting, extensive frequent stretching and position changes,
walking, prolonged standing proper lift and carry techniques, supportive
shoes, shock-absorbent flooring
neck PAIN holding telephone between chin and headset, correct height and distance
shoulder, looking at computer or video placement for monitor, rearrange workspace
monitor, frequently turning head to minimize turning
ROTATOR CUFF IMPINGEMENT reaching, production line, throwing reorganize work area to minimize turning,
SYNDROME frequent stretching and resting