title: Secondhand smoke policies at state and county fairs.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We sought to assess the smoking policies at state and county fairs in North Carolina.
  
  
  METHODS
  We contacted North Carolina fair managers by telephone to solicit participation in a survey that assessed the extent to which fairs have written policies about smoking and secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure, managers' beliefs concerning the health risks associated with SHS exposure, and specific reasons that might prompt managers to adopt smoke-free policies.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Attempts were made to contact 47 fair managers, and 37 (66.0%) participated in the study. We found that although almost two-thirds of fairs prohibited smoking indoors, the vast majority (83.9%) had no limits on outdoor smoking. Most fair managers (84.6%) acknowledged that SHS may cause lung cancer, and a majority (51.6%) reported a belief that their patrons would largely be supportive of a more restrictive policy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Fair managers' responses were primarily based on their own opinions, estimates, and attitudes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Because of the high number and density of fair patrons, unrestricted outdoor smoking likely exposes most patrons to SHS. Action to eliminate all exposure to SHS at state and county fairs is needed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, UNC School of Medicine, USA.
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mage
authors.forename: Adam O
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Goldstein
authors.forename: Siobhan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Colgan
authors.forename: Bron
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Skinner
authors.forename: Kathryn D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Kramer
authors.forename: Julea
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Steiner
authors.forename: Ann H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Staples
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001290:Attitude; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009657:North Carolina; D057766:Policy; D011998:Recreation; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*
chemical_list: D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution