Does the implementation of smoke-free laws and smoking culture affect exposure to tobacco smoking? Results from 3 hospitality settings in South Korea
Objectives It is especially difficult for hospitality workers to avoid secondhand smoke (SHS), meaning that they are likely particularly vulnerable to the effects of SHS. The authors aimed to determine the degree to which smoke-free laws protect hospitality workers from SHS exposure, by examining bi...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine
2021-01-01
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| Series: | International Journal of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://ijomeh.eu/Does-the-implementation-of-smoke-free-laws-and-smoking-culture-affect-exposure-to,126433,0,2.html |
| Summary: | Objectives
It is especially difficult for hospitality workers to avoid secondhand smoke (SHS), meaning that they are likely particularly vulnerable
to the effects of SHS. The authors aimed to determine the degree to which smoke-free laws protect hospitality workers from SHS exposure, by examining
biochemical markers of such exposure.
Material and Methods
This was a cross-sectional study examining SHS exposure in non-smoking
employees working in hospitality settings where smoking is prohibited or permitted. The following biomarkers were selected: cotinine and tobaccospecific
nitrosamines, which are known to measure SHS exposure, and 2 representative carcinogens: 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanol
and 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanone (NNK). The authors compared these biomarkers between 3 hospitality settings. A descriptive
analysis was performed. In addition, they conducted 1-way and 2-way analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) to compare the biochemical markers.
Results
Smoking substances were identified by smoking ban levels. In the case of hair nicotine and urine cotinine, their concentrations were lower in
areas with a complete smoking ban than in both areas with a separate smoking room and no smoking ban; however, there was no statistically significant
difference between these. In the case of dust NNK, its level was the lowest in areas with a complete smoking ban. To confirm the smoking ban
effect by hospitality settings, the authors checked the results of the 2-way ANCOVA. In karaoke and billiard halls, the dust NNK concentrations were
significantly higher in areas with no smoking ban than in areas with a separate smoking room.
Conclusions
Exposure to SHS is more prevalent in
places that are more lenient when it comes to smoking (e.g., Internet cafés) than in places that are not (e.g., restaurants and cafés), even when smoking
is similarly prohibited in both types of places. Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2021;34(1):53–67 |
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| ISSN: | 1232-1087 1896-494X |