Italy and Austria before and after study: second-hand smoke exposure in hospitality premises before and after 2years from the introduction of the Italian smoking ban
- 1 August 2008
- journal article
- Published by Hindawi Limited in Indoor Air
- Vol. 18 (4), 328-334
- https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0668.2008.00534.x
Abstract
The aim of this paper was to compare nicotine concentration in 28 hospitality premises (HPs) in Florence and Belluno, Italy, where a smoking ban was introduced in 2005, and in 19 HPs in Vienna, Austria, where no anti- smoking law entered into force up to now. Airborne nicotine concentrations were measured in the same HPs in winter 2002 or 2004 (pre-ban measurements) and winter 2007 (post-ban measurements). In Florence and Belluno, medians decreased significantly (P < 0.001) from 8.86 (interquartile range (IQR): 2.41- 45.07)) before the ban to 0.01 lg/m3 (IQR: 0.01-0.41) afterwards. In Austria (no smoking ban) the medians collected in winters 2004 and 2007 were, respectively, 11.00 (IQR: 2.53-30.38) and 15.76 lg/m3 (IQR: 2.22-31.93), with no significant differences. Measurements collected in winter 2007 in 28 HPs located in Naples, Turin, Milan (0.01 lg/m3; IQR: 0.01-0.16) confirmed post- ban results in Florence and Belluno. The medians of nicotine concentrations in Italy and Austria before the Italian ban translates, using the risk model of Repace and Lowery, into a lifetime excess lung cancer mortality risk for hos- pitality workers of 11.81 and 14.67 per 10,000, respectively. Lifetime excess lung cancer mortality risks for bar and disco-pub workers were 10-20 times higher than that calculated for restaurant workers, both in Italy and Austria. In winter 2007, it dropped to 0.01 per 10,000 in Italy, whereas in Austria it remained at the same levels. The drop of second-hand smoke exposure indicates a substantial improvement in air quality in Italian HPs even after 2 years from the ban.Keywords
This publication has 25 references indexed in Scilit:
- What happened in Italy? A brief summary of studies conducted in Italy to evaluate the impact of the smoking banAnnals Of Oncology, 2007
- Smoking prevalence in Italy after the smoking ban: Towards a comprehensive evaluation of tobacco control programs in EuropePreventive Medicine, 2007
- Exposure to environmental tobacco smoke in German restaurants, pubs and discothequesJournal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology, 2007
- Effects of the Irish Smoking Ban on Respiratory Health of Bar Workers and Air Quality in Dublin PubsAmerican Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, 2007
- Smoking in Italy 2005–2006: Effects of a comprehensive National Tobacco RegulationPreventive Medicine, 2007
- Airborne exposure and biological monitoring of bar and restaurant workers before and after the introduction of a smoking banJournal of Environmental Monitoring, 2006
- Effects of new smoking regulations in ItalyAnnals of Oncology, 2006
- Risks for Heart Disease and Lung Cancer from Passive Smoking by Workers in the Catering IndustryToxicological Sciences, 2006
- Environmental Tobacco Smoke (ETS) Exposure in Florence Hospitality Venues Before and After the Smoking Ban in ItalyJournal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 2005
- Legislation for smoke-free workplaces and health of bar workers in Ireland: before and after studyBMJ, 2005