Proximity of IQOS and JUUL points of sale to schools in Israel: a geospatial analysis

Authors

Daniel Elbaz, Braun School of Public Health and Community Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem and Hadassah Medical Organization, Jerusalem, Israel.
Yael Bar Zeev, Braun School of Public Health and Community Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem and Hadassah Medical Organization, Jerusalem, Israel.
Carla J. Berg, Department of Prevention and Community Health, Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University, Washington, District of Columbia, USA.
Lorien C. Abroms, Department of Prevention and Community Health, Milken Institute School of Public Health, George Washington University, Washington, District of Columbia, USA.
Hagai Levine, Braun School of Public Health and Community Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem and Hadassah Medical Organization, Jerusalem, Israel hlevine@hadassah.org.il.

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

12-1-2022

Journal

Tobacco control

Volume

31

Issue

e2

DOI

10.1136/tobaccocontrol-2021-056718

Keywords

electronic nicotine delivery devices; nicotine; public policy; socioeconomic status; surveillance and monitoring

Abstract

SIGNIFICANCE: Exploring proximity and density of heated tobacco product (HTP) and electronic nicotine delivery system (ENDS) points of sale (POS) to schools is critical for understanding youth marketing exposure and informing policy and enforcement to protect youth. This study examined IQOS and JUUL POS (prominent HTPs and ENDS), specifically their proximity to and density around schools in Israel. METHODS: Using geospatial analysis and IQOS/JUUL website data, distance matrices were used to calculate distance from each school in Israel (grades 1-12) to the nearest POS and number of POS within 1 km, accounting for schools' neighbourhood socioeconomic status (SES) ranking. RESULTS: An average of 8.7 IQOS POS and 5.2 JUUL POS were within walking distance (1 km) from schools. Average distances from schools to nearest IQOS and JUUL POS were 954 m (median=365 m) and 1535 m (median=579 m), respectively. The percentages of schools with at least one IQOS or JUUL POS within 1 km were 86% and 74%, respectively. The average numbers of POS within 1 km of schools in low-SES, middle-SES, and high-SES neighbourhoods were 7.5, 9.9, and 7.6 for IQOS and 4.1, 5.9, and 5.5 for JUUL, respectively. Median distances from schools in low-SES, middle-SES, and high-SES neighbourhoods to nearest POS were 428 m, 325 m, and 403 m for IQOS and 1044 m, 483 m, and 525 m for JUUL. CONCLUSIONS: Youth experience high environmental exposure to IQOS and JUUL POS, particularly IQOS. POS were more densely located near schools in middle-SES neighbourhoods. Thus, regulating HTP and ENDS POS near schools and in certain neighbourhoods is key to reducing youth population impact in Israel and elsewhere.

APA Citation

Elbaz, Daniel; Bar Zeev, Yael; Berg, Carla J.; Abroms, Lorien C.; and Levine, Hagai, "Proximity of IQOS and JUUL points of sale to schools in Israel: a geospatial analysis" (2022). GW Authored Works. Paper 2207.
https://hsrc.himmelfarb.gwu.edu/gwhpubs/2207

Department

Prevention and Community Health