[A comparison between indoor air quality before and after the implementation of the smoking ban in public places in Italy].
OBJECTIVE
To monitor indoor air quality index in a few Italian hospitality industry venues before and after the implementation of the smoking ban in January 2005.


METHODS
Indoor PM2.5 measurements were carried out in four Milan restaurants during evening hours in the period January-February 2004, and again in January-February 2005, with concurrent outdoor PM2.5 monitoring. The measures were recorded with a portable laser-operated aerosol analyzer with a sampling time of 2 minutes, calibrated by comparison with gravimetric method


RESULTS
PM2.5 ranged between 187+/-52 and 709+/-180 mg/m3, and between 24+/-10 e 141+/-28 mg/m3 (p <0.0001) in the years 2004 and 2005, respectively. After the 2005 smoking ban, overall indoor fine particle pollution decreased by values in the range from 81 to 96%.


CONCLUSIONS
Within the limits of a small sample, the study showed a good compliance with the smoking ban in the hospitality industry which resulted in a remarkable improvement in air quality index. Smoking ban thus appears to achieve the aims of protecting people from exposure to an unwanted dangerous pollutant such as environmental tobacco smoke.
Ruprecht
Ario
A
Unità funzionale per la prevenzione dei danni da fumo dell'istituto nazionale per lo studio e la cura dei tumori SIMG, Società italiana di medicina generate, Milano.
Boffi
Roberto
R
Mazza
Roberto
R
Rossetti
Edoardo
E
De Marco
Cinzia
C
Invernizzi
Giovanni
G
D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000032:analysis* / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000032:analysis; D011633:Public Facilities / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution / Q000032:analysis* / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000517:prevention & control
D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution