title: Indoor fine particle (PM2.5) pollution exposure due to secondhand smoke in selected public places of Sri Lanka.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Secondhand smoke accounts for a considerable proportion of deaths due to tobacco smoke. Although the existing laws ban indoor smoking in public places in Sri Lanka, the level of compliance is unknown.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fine particulate matter (PM(2.5)) levels in 20 public places in Colombo, Sri Lanka were measured by a PM monitor (Model AM510-SIDEPAK Personal Aerosol Monitor). Different types of businesses (restaurants, bars, cafés, and entertainment venues) were selected by purposive sampling. Only the places where smoking was permitted were considered.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The average indoor PM(2.5) ranged from 33 to 299 µg/m(3). The average outdoor PM(2.5) ranged from 18 to 83 µg/m(3). The indoor to outdoor PM(2.5) ratio ranged from 1.05 to 14.93. In all venues, indoor PM(2.5) levels were higher than the Sri Lankan ambient PM(2.5) standard of 50 µg/m(3). All indoor locations had higher PM(2.5) levels as compared to their immediate outdoor surroundings.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study highlights the importance of improving ventilation and enforcing laws to stop smoking in public places.
authors.affiliation: Evaluation and Research Unit, National Institute of Health Sciences, Ministry of Health, Kalutara, Sri Lanka. sumalnandasena@gmail.com
authors.forename: Sumal
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nandasena
authors.forename: Ananda R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Wickremasinghe
authors.forename: Kiyoung
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Nalini
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sathiakumar
mesh_terms: D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000032:analysis*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000032:analysis*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010316:Particle Size; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000032:analysis*; D011633:Public Facilities; D013188:Sri Lanka; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D052638:Particulate Matter; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution