Check our February - 2008 newsletter

The First Syrian Center for Tobacco Studies International Summer Program for Tobacco Control Research

This week-long tobacco control research-oriented course is designed to meet the needs of a wide range of health-related professionals, who need training in tobacco control research methods.

The course will be research-oriented, and will focus on methods of tobacco control research that are relevant to the tobacco epidemic in the Arab region. Fellowship program will be available for this course
For registration and fellowship program

Click here to download the program

SCTS Posters in the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco (SRNT) conference

SCTS team participated in the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco (SRNT) conference, Portland, OR, USA February 27- March 1, 2008 with poster presentations. Waterpipe was the main topic of these posters beside secondhand smoke at home and in public places

Exposure to secondhand smoke at home and in public places in Syria

New study conducted by SCTS concluded that children in Syria are exposed to high levels of SHS at home, of which mother’s smoking plays a major role. Also, levels of respirable hazardous particles are high in public hospitality venues putting customers and workers at serious health risks. Efforts to limit exposure of children and women at home and to adopt clean air policies should become a public health priority in Syria and the Arab region

  Workshops 

1- Critical appraisal of the evidence in general medicine:
SCTS researchers attended a two-day workshop held in Aleppo, Syria (January 26-27, 2008) conducted by the Cochrane Collaboration about "Critical appraisal of the evidence in general medicine

2- The basics of health research:
The SCTS in collaboration with University of Aleppo have organized a one-day workshop on health research, titled "The basic of health research "on January 19, 2008 in Aleppo, Syria

Waterpipe-associsated particulate matter emissions

Waterpipe tobacco smoking is increasingly common worldwide, and evidence about its harmful effects to smokers is emerging. However, no studies have investigated the potential exposure of nonsmokers to waterpipe smoke. For this purpose particulate matter (PM) emissions (PM2.5, PM10) were measured before and during laboratory sessions in which 20 individuals used a waterpipe to smoke tobacco and 20 individuals smoked a cigarette, as well as 10 waterpipe and 10 cigarette smoldering sessions (i.e., without a smoker). A TSISidePak aerosol monitor obtained PM2.5, PM10 background, smoking, and maximum levels. Mean PM2.5 and PM10 smoldering levels did not differ from background for waterpipe but were significantly higher for cigarettes (PM2.5: 33–190 mg/ m3; PM10: 42–220 mg/m3). Policymakers considering clean air regulations should include waterpipe tobacco smoking, and the public should be warned about this source of smoke exposure.