title: Air Quality, Biomarker Levels, and Health Effects on Staff in Korean Restaurants and Pubs Before and After a Smoking Ban.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The Korean government implemented a smoking ban at square floor area of ≥150 m(2), rather than <150 m(2), restaurants and pubs from July 2013. This study examined the effects of the smoking regulations in restaurants and pubs in terms of the air quality, biomarker levels and health effects on staff.
  
  
  METHODS
  Particulate matter smaller than 2.5 µm (PM2.5) was measured in 146 facilities before and 1 month after the ban. The urinary cotinine and 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1- butanol (NNAL) levels were measured in 101 staff members at 77 facilities before and 1 month after the ban. We also measured self-reported respiratory and sensory symptoms on both phases.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 146 facilities, 121 facilities were included in the PM2.5 analysis. In ≥150 m(2) pubs, the indoor PM2.5 concentration was significantly reduced after the ban (p < .05). While the urinary cotinine concentrations of the staff in all facilities were not changed after the ban, the total NNAL concentrations of the staff in ≥150 m(2) pubs were significantly reduced after the ban (p < .05). The health effects on staff show that only sensory symptoms significantly improved in ≥150 m(2) facilities after the ban (p < .05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The smoking ban significantly reduced the levels of PM2.5 and total NNAL concentrations in ≥150 m(2) pubs and improved sensory health among staff in ≥150 m(2) facilities. The results of this study can be useful in supporting an expansion of the smoking ban in all indoor places, including <150 m(2) restaurants and pubs.
authors: Department of Environmental Health Research, Seoul Medical Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Department of Environmental Health, Graduate School of Public Health, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea;
authors: Jeonghoon
authors: J
authors: Kim
authors: Department of Preventive Medicine, Dankook University College of Medicine, Cheonan, Chungnam, Republic of Korea; hojang@dankook.ac.kr.
authors: Ho-Jang
authors: HJ
authors: Kwon
authors: Department of Environmental Health, Graduate School of Public Health, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Institute of Health and Environment, Graduate School of Public Health, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea;
authors: Kiyoung
authors: K
authors: Lee
authors: Department of Laboratory Medicine, National Cancer Center, Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea;
authors: Do-Hoon
authors: DH
authors: Lee
authors: Department of Family Medicine, Health Promotion Center, Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital, Anyang-si, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea;
authors: Yujin
authors: Y
authors: Paek
authors: Jipyong, Seoul, Republic of Korea;
authors: Sung-Soo
authors: SS
authors: Kim
authors: Department of Environmental Health Research, Seoul Medical Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Department of Public Health Nutrition, Graduate School of Public Health, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea;
authors: Soyoung
authors: S
authors: Hong
authors: Department of Environmental Health Research, Seoul Medical Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea;
authors: Wanryung
authors: W
authors: Lim
authors: Department of Neurology, Seoul Medical Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors: Jae-Hyeok
authors: JH
authors: Heo
authors: Department of Environmental Health Research, Seoul Medical Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea;
authors: Kyoosang
authors: K
authors: Kim
mesh_terms: D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000032:analysis*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000652:urine*; D003367:Cotinine / Q000652:urine*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D056910:Republic of Korea; D012147:Restaurants / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D012907:Smoking / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution; D003367:Cotinine