No smoking
Since the first of July in the Netherlands smoking is prohibited in restaurants, cafes, pubs etc. Earlier smoking was banned from offices and public places. In other countries this smoking ban was set earlier. Although there is still a lot of turmoil about this ban, the health perspectives for workers must improve. At least it did in several other countries.
This recent study is from Spain:
Impact of the Spanish Smoking Law on Exposure to Secondhand Smoke in Offices and Hospitality Venues: Before and After Study
Manel Nebot, Maria J. López, Carles Ariza, Mónica Pérez-Ríos, Marcela Fu, Anna Schiaffino, Gloria Muñoz, Esteve Saltó and Esteve Fernández on behalf of the Spanish Smoking Law Evaluation Group
Online 19 September 2008
Abstract
Background/objectives: A smoking law was passed by the Spanish Parliament in December 2005 and was enforced by January 1, 2006. The law bans smoking in all indoor workplaces but only in some hospitality venues, since owners are allowed to establish a smoking zone (venues larger than 100 m2) or to allow smoking without restrictions (venues smaller than 100 m2). The objective of the study is to assess the impact of the Spanish smoking law on exposure to secondhand smoke (SHS) in enclosed workplaces including hospitality venues.
Materials and methods: The study design is a before and after evaluation. Workplaces and hospitality venues from eight different regions of Spain were studied. Repeated samples of vapour-phase nicotine concentration were taken in 398 premises, including private offices (162), public administration offices (90), university premises (43), bars and restaurants (79), and discotheques and pubs (24).
Results: In the follow-up period, SHS levels were markedly reduced in indoor offices. The median decrease in nicotine concentration ranged from 60.0% in public premises to 97.4% in private areas. Nicotine concentrations were also markedly reduced in bars and restaurants that went smoke-free (96.7%) and in the no-smoking zones of venues with separate spaces for smokers (88.9%). There were no significant changes in smoking zones or in premises allowing smoking, including discotheques and pubs.
Conclusions: Overall, this study shows the positive impact of the law on reducing SHS in indoor workplaces. However, SHS was substantially reduced only in bars and restaurants that became smoke-free. Most hospitality workers continue to be exposed to very high levels of SHS. Therefore, a 100% smoke-free policy for all hospitality venues is required.
