Impact of an indoor smoking ban on bar workers' exposure to secondhand smoke.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the impact of an indoor smoke-free bylaw in Toronto, Ontario, implemented June 2004.


METHODS
We used a pre-post comparison design to assess secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure among 79 eligible bar workers in Toronto, Ontario (bylaw enacted), and 49 eligible bar workers in a control community, Windsor, Ontario (no bylaw change), at four times: preban, and 1, 2, and 9 months postban.


RESULTS
SHS exposure time and urinary cotinine level were substantially reduced in Toronto bar workers immediately after the ban by 94% (from 7.8 to 0.5 hours) and 68% (from 24.2 to 7.8 ng/mL), respectively. The reduction was sustained throughout follow-up. There was no change among Windsor bar workers before and after the ban.


CONCLUSIONS
Compliance with the ban was high, and the ban led to a substantial reduction in SHS exposure.
Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. sue.bondy@utoronto.ca
Susan J
SJ
Bondy
Bo
B
Zhang
Nancy
N
Kreiger
Peter
P
Selby
Neal
N
Benowitz
Heather
H
Travis
Ana
A
Florescu
Nicole R
NR
Greenspan
Roberta
R
Ferrence
D000328:Adult; D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000032:analysis* / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000517:prevention & control; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000652:urine; D002853:Chromatography, Liquid; D003367:Cotinine / Q000652:urine*; D005260:Female; D019649:Food Industry; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000032:analysis* / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000517:prevention & control; D009864:Ontario; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012907:Smoking / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000652:urine*; D016540:Smoking Cessation / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D000074606:Smoking Prevention; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution / Q000032:analysis* / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000517:prevention & control; D055815:Young Adult
D015415:Biomarkers; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution; D003367:Cotinine