[Estimation of the excess of lung cancer mortality risk associated to environmental tobacco smoke exposure of hospitality workers].
OBJECTIVE
To estimate the excess lung cancer mortality risk associated with environmental tobacco (ETS) smoke exposure among hospitality workers. The estimation was done using objective measures in several hospitality settings in Barcelona.


METHODS
Vapour phase nicotine was measured in several hospitality settings. These measurements were used to estimate the excess lung cancer mortality risk associated with ETS exposure for a 40 year working life, using the formula developed by Repace and Lowrey.


RESULTS
Excess lung cancer mortality risk associated with ETS exposure was higher than 145 deaths per 100,000 workers in all places studied, except for cafeterias in hospitals, where excess lung cancer mortality risk was 22 per 100,000. In discoteques, for comparison, excess lung cancer mortality risk is 1,733 deaths per 100,000 workers.


CONCLUSIONS
Hospitality workers are exposed to ETS levels related to a very high excess lung cancer mortality risk. These data confirm that ETS control measures are needed to protect hospital workers.
López
M José
MJ
Servei d'Avaluació i Mètodes d'Intervenció, Agència de Salut Pública, Barcelona, Spain. mjlopez@aspb.es
Nebot
Manel
M
Juárez
Olga
O
Ariza
Carles
C
Salles
Joan
J
Serrahima
Eulàlia
E
D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012147:Restaurants; D012306:Risk; D013030:Spain; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects*; D017132:Workplace
D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution