Irish Smoking Ban Decreases Air Pollution

A workplace smoking ban in Ireland resulted in an 83 percent reduction in air pollution in bars, found a study of 42 Dublin pubs.

The Research Institute for a Tobacco Free Society in Dublin

also found an 80 percent decrease in airborne carcinogens for patrons and staff, and an improvement in the respiratory health of bar workers, according to the study published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.

Participants were tested prior to the March 29, 2004, Irish national smoking ban, and compared to results one-year later.

Dr. Luke Clancy, director of the Research Institute for a Tobacco Free Society in Dublin, also found the post-ban tests demonstrated an 83 percent reduction in tiny particulate matter in bar air.

These results confirm that the approach of a total ban on smoking in the workplace is successful in reducing the exposure of workers to particles, Clancy said in a statement. We have previously shown that a reduction of particle levels in ambient air resulted in marked health benefits in terms of respiratory and cardiovascular mortality.