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Journal of Public Health Advance Access published online on July 23, 2008
Journal of Public Health, doi:10.1093/pubmed/fdn062
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© The Author 2008, Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Faculty of Public Health. All rights reserved

Changes in air quality and second-hand smoke exposure in hospitality sector businesses after introduction of the English Smoke-free legislation


N. K. Gotz, Research Associate1,2
M. van Tongeren, Head of Exposure Assessment3
H. Wareing, Director2
L. M. Wallace, Director of Research1
S. Semple, Senior Lecturer4
L. MacCalman, Statistician3

1 Applied Research Centre in Health and Lifestyle Interventions, Coventry University, Coventry CV1 5FB, UK
2 Tobacco Control Collaborating Centre for England, Warwick CV34 4RA, UK
3 Institute of Occupational Medicine, Edinburgh EH14 4AP, UK
4 Department of Environmental and Occupational Medicine, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen AB25 2ZP, UK


Address correspondence to Nina Gotz, E-mail: nina.gotz{at}coventry.ac.uk


  Abstract

Background To monitor and disseminate the short-term effects of the English Smoke-free legislation on air quality and employee exposure in businesses of the hospitality industry.

Methods Indoor particle concentrations and salivary cotinine levels were measured in businesses in the hospitality sector and non-smoking employees one month before and after the implementation of the legislation. Results were immediately released to the media to announce the improvements in air quality and employee exposure to the wider public.

Results Measurements were collected in 49 businesses and from 75 non-smoking individuals. Indoor PM2.5 concentrations decreased by 95% from 217 µg/m3 at baseline to 11 µg/m3 at follow-up (P < 0.001). Salivary cotinine in employees was reduced by 75%, from 3.6 ng/ml at baseline to 0.9 ng/ml at follow-up (P < 0.001). The findings were presented to the public through press releases and interviews and were cited in over 20 media articles.

Conclusion The project demonstrates the positive effects of the English Smoke-free legislation on air quality and second-hand smoke exposure in the hospitality industry sector. We believe that quick and positive feedback to the public on the effects of smoking restrictions is essential when introducing public health legislation such as the Smoke-free legislation.

Keywords: air pollution, public health, tobacco


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