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Only Comprehensive Smoke-Free Ordinances Significantly Improve Indoor Air Quality, Study Reports

Posted on: Thursday, 15 September 2005, 15:00 CDT

MINNEAPOLIS, Sept. 15 /PRNewswire/ -- Only bars and restaurants covered by a comprehensive smoke-free ordinance experienced significant reductions in harmful air pollutants, according to a study released today by the Minnesota Partnership for Action Against Tobacco (MPAAT). Meanwhile, the study finds that partial ordinances offer almost no meaningful reduction in harmful pollutants -- air pollution in businesses with partial smoke-free ordinances is still more than three times greater than the annual exposure level recommended by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

"Only in Hennepin County -- where a comprehensive smoke-free ordinance exists -- were the tested pollution levels considerably below the EPA's exposure limits and as clean as outdoor air," said Barbara A. Schillo, Ph.D., MPAAT Director of Research Programs. "The study supports the use of comprehensive smoke-free ordinances as a way to provide truly clean air for people to breathe."

The study also found that prior to implementation of a comprehensive smoke-free ordinance, the air in Hennepin, Ramsey and Dakota counties' bars and restaurants was three times more polluted than a downtown bus terminal at rush hour.

The study monitored pollutants in the air of 25 bars and restaurants in Hennepin County (which has a comprehensive smoke-free ordinance), Ramsey County (which has a partial smoke-free ordinance) and Dakota County (which has no smoke-free ordinance). The study compared air pollution before and after the March 31, 2005 implementation of Twin Cities smoke-free ordinances.

The study found that: -- Hennepin County's comprehensive smoke-free ordinance helped reduce harmful air pollution in bars and restaurants by 99 percent. -- Bar and restaurant employees and customers in communities with either partial smoke-free ordinances or no ordinances at all continue to breathe air pollution at levels that exceed EPA annual exposure limits by 2-1/2 to 3-1/2 times. -- People in bars and restaurants covered by partial smoke-free ordinances breathe air that is more polluted than that found in a typical bus terminal and much less clean than typical outside air.

Pollution measured in the study contain cancer-causing and other chemicals that are inhaled deeply into the lungs, where they may cause significant damage to people's health. High concentrations of these pollutants are found in secondhand smoke, which causes 35,000 Americans to die from heart disease every year and has been known to cause lung cancer, heart disease, chronic lung ailments and low birth weights. Studies have shown that even 30 minutes of secondhand smoke exposure compromised the function of coronary arteries of non-smokers in a way that was indistinguishable from smokers.

Since the ordinances were implemented last spring, some bar owners have argued that the ordinances have hurt their business. Their concerns, combined with the results of this study, emphasize the need for Minnesota to create a level playing field for health and hospitality, said David Willoughby, MPAAT Chief Executive Officer. "The time is right for a comprehensive smoke-free law."

The ordinances are also supported by the public. In an opinion survey conducted in May 2005, 73 percent of Hennepin County residents supported the smoke-free ordinance. Residents also reported that going out to bars or restaurants was more enjoyable after the ordinance was implemented.

Methodology

Air quality monitoring was conducted before and after the implementation of smoke-free ordinances in 25 bars and restaurants in Hennepin, Ramsey and Dakota counties during March 2005 (pre-ordinance) and June 2005 (post- ordinance). Monitoring occurred from noon to 1 p.m. on Fridays and from 6 p.m. to midnight on Fridays and Saturdays. For each business, post-ordinance monitoring was conducted on the same day of the week and same time of day as the pre-ordinance monitoring so that the comparisons are valid. No monitoring was conducted over holiday weekends.

The study was conducted by the Minnesota Institute of Public Health of Mounds View, Minn., in collaboration with the Center for Energy and the Environment of Minneapolis, Minn. MPAAT commissioned the study to provide specific data on the health impact of smoke-free ordinances. The full report is available at http://www.mpaat.org/ .

MPAAT is an independent, non-profit organization that improves the health of Minnesotans by reducing the harm caused by tobacco. MPAAT serves Minnesota through its grant-making program, QUITPLAN(SM) stop-smoking services and statewide outreach activities. It is funded with three percent of the state's 1998 tobacco settlement.

Minnesota Partnership for Action Against Tobacco

CONTACT: Kerri Gordon, Public Relations Manager for MinnesotaPartnership for Action Against Tobacco, +1-952-767-1403

Web site: http://www.mpaat.org/

Source: PRNewswire

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