Airborne exposure and biological monitoring of bar and restaurant workers before and after the introduction of a smoking ban.
The aims were to assess the impact of a total smoking ban on the level of airborne contaminants and the urinary cotinine levels in the employees in bars and restaurants. In a follow up design, 13 bars and restaurants were visited before and after the implementation of a smoking ban. Ninety-three employees in the establishments were initially included into the study. The arithmetic mean concentration of nicotine and total dust declined from 28.3 microg m(-3) (range, 0.4-88.0) and 262 microg m(-3) (range, 52-662), respectively, to 0.6 microg m(-3) (range, not detected-3.7) and 77 microg m(-3) (range, not detected-261) after the smoking ban. The Pearson correlation coefficient between airborne nicotine and total dust was 0.86 (p < 0.001; n = 48). The post-shift geometric mean urinary cotinine concentration declined from 9.5 microg g(-1) creatinine (cr) (95% CI 6.5-13.7) to 1.4 microg g(-1) cr (95% CI 0.8-2.5) after the ban (p < 0.001) in 25 non-snuffing non-smokers. A reduction from 1444 microg g(-1) cr (95% CI 957-2180) to 688 microg g(-1) cr (95% CI 324-1458) was found (p < 0.05) in 29 non-snuffing smokers. The urinary cotinine levels increased from 11.7 microg g(-1) cr (95% CI 7.0-19.6) post-shift to 21.9 microg g(-1) cr (95% CI 13.3-36.3) (p < 0.01) in the next morning in 24 non-snuffing non-smokers before the smoking ban. A substantial reduction of airborne nicotine and total dust was observed after the introduction of a smoking ban in bars and restaurants. The urinary cotinine levels were reduced in non-smokers. The decline found in smokers may suggest a reduction in the amount of smoking after intervention. In non-smokers cotinine concentrations were higher based on urine sampled the morning after a shift than based on urine sampled immediately post-shift.
Ellingsen
Dag G
DG
National Institute of Occupational Health, P.O. Box 8149 Dep, N-0033, Oslo, Norway. dag.ellingsen@stami.no
Fladseth
Geir
G
Daae
Hanne L
HL
Gjølstad
Merete
M
Kjaerheim
Kristina
K
Skogstad
Marit
M
Olsen
Raymond
R
Thorud
Syvert
S
Molander
Paal
P
D000328:Adult; D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000032:analysis*; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D003367:Cotinine / Q000652:urine; D004391:Dust / Q000032:analysis; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009538:Nicotine / Q000032:analysis*; D009664:Norway; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000032:analysis*; D011633:Public Facilities / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D012147:Restaurants; D012907:Smoking / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D013997:Time Factors; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution / Q000032:analysis* / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence
D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D004391:Dust; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution; D009538:Nicotine; D003367:Cotinine