UCSF

Cigarette smoking is the most preventable cause of death in the U.S. Research regarding the phenomenon oflow-level smoking, defined as smoking one to five cigarettes per day (CPD) on average, is increasing as itshigh prevalence is better recognized. The Mexican Immigration to California: Agricultural Safety andAcculturation (MICASA) study is a prospective cohort study of Latino hired farm worker families that assessesrespiratory health, including patterns and behaviors of cigarette smoking. The purpose of the presentanalysis was to establish demographic, migration-related, and psychosocial characteristics and risk factors forlow-level smoking. Seven percent of participants were current smokers, 61% of them being low-level smokers.Low-level smokers did not smoke as many days during the past month as those who smoke 6+ CPD(p=0.04). Low-level smokers were more likely than never and former smokers combined not to be marriedand to experience frequent mental distress. Those who smoke 6+ CPD were also more likely than never andformer smokers combined to experience frequent mental distress and to be more acculturated. Low-levelsmokers have characteristics and risk factors that set them apart from other types of smokers. This increasedunderstanding of low-level smokers can enhance public health education and smoking cessation programstargeted at Latinos.