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Journal of Public Health Advance Access published online on January 25, 2006
Journal of Public Health, doi:10.1093/pubmed/fdi076
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© The Author 2006, Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Faculty of Public Health. All rights reserved.

Article

Second-hand smoke levels in UK pubs and bars: do the English Public Health White Paper proposals go far enough?

I. L. Gee 1 *, A. F. R. Watson 2, J. Carrington 3, P. R. Edwards 4, M. van Tongeren 5, P. McElduff 6, and R. E. Edwards 7

1 Centre for Public Health, Liverpool John Moores University, Castle House, North Street, Liverpool L3 2AY, UK
2 ARIC, Department of Environmental & Geographical Sciences, Manchester Metropolitan University, All Saints Building, All Saints, Manchester M15 6BH, UK
3 University of Essex, Wivenhoe Park, Colchester CO4 3SQ, UK
4 Department of Public Health, Wellington School of Medicine & Health Sciences, University of Otago, 23a Mein Street, Newtown, Wellington, New Zealand
5 Centre for Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Epidemiology and Health Sciences, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, UK
6 Evidence for Population Health Unit, Division of Epidemiology and Health Sciences, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, UK
7 The Manchester Centre for Civil and Construction Engineering, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, UK

* To whom correspondence should be addressed.
I. L. Gee, E-mail: i.l.gee{at}ljmu.ac.uk


  Abstract

Background The English Public Health White Paper proposes introducing smoke-free workplaces except in pubs and bars that do not prepare and serve food. The bar area will be non-smoking in exempted pubs.

Objective To explore the likely impact of these proposals in UK pubs and bars.

Methods A total of 59 pubs and bars within Greater Manchester in 2001 were chosen. Thirteen were mechanically ventilated, 12 were naturally ventilated and 34 had extractor fans; 23 provided non-smoking areas. We measured time-weighted average concentrations of respirable suspended particles (RSP), solanesol tobacco-specific particles and vapour-phase nicotine (VPN) over a 4-h sampling period on a Tuesday or Saturday night.

Results Second-hand smoke (SHS) levels in smoking areas were high (mean RSP 114.5 µg/m3, VPN 88.2 µg/m3, solanesol 101.7 µg/m3). There were only small (5-13 per cent) reductions in bar areas. Mean levels were lower in non-smoking areas: by 33 per cent for RSPs, 52 per cent for solanesol particles and 69 per cent for VPN. Compared with other settings (homes and other workplaces) with unrestricted smoking, mean SHS levels were high throughout all areas of the pubs regardless of ventilation strategy.

Conclusion Partial measures, like those in the English Public Health White Paper, will leave bar staff in exempted pubs unprotected from the occupational hazard of SHS.

Keywords: air quality, cross-sectional study, passive smoking, pubs and bars.
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