Release
Date: Immediate Release Kill Date: June 30,
2011
Contact
Person: Ann
Goldon Phone: (810) 341-5898
RE:
New Study Finds Significant Health Impact of State Smoke-free Air Law
Results from an air monitoring study conducted before and
after the state smoke-free air law took effect indicate a major reduction in the
level of particulate matter in the air in restaurants after the law went into
effect.
The Michigan Department of Community Health, Tobacco Section,
with assistance from local health departments and other community agencies,
recruited field investigators to measure the air quality in restaurants. The
field investigators measured levels of fine particulate matter smaller than PM2.5
from secondhand smoke in restaurants before and after the statewide smoke-free
air law was implemented to determine whether the law was effective in reducing
air pollution from secondhand smoke. The study was conducted in fourteen sites
including Ann Arbor, Detroit, Flint, Grand Rapids, Kalamazoo, Lansing and East
Lansing, Marquette, Midland, Novi, Saginaw, Sault Ste. Marie, Traverse City, and
West Branch. Air quality in Detroit casinos was also measured in this study.
Secondhand smoke, as measured by PM2.5, is a
harmful combustion source air pollutant that is emitted in very large amounts by
cigarettes, pipes, and cigars. Exposure to particulate matter of this sizeaffects breathing and the cellular defenses of the lungs, aggravates
existing respiratory and cardiovascular ailments, and causes adverse health
effects on the respiratory and cardiovascular systems.
The entire population is affected, but susceptibility to PM2.5
pollution varies with age and health status, and persons with heart or
lung disease, the elderly, and children are at the highest risk from exposure to
PM2.5.
According to Mark Valacak, Health Officer for the Genesee
County Health Department, “Measuring the difference in particulate matterin restaurants before and after the state smoke-free air law went into
effect can help to determine the change in air quality that occurred as a result
of the law. This study clearly demonstrates the health benefit of the state
smoke-free air law.” The air monitoring study was conducted in six restaurants
in Genesee County both before and after the law took effect. All six
restaurants allowed smoking before the law and were smoke-free after the law
took effect. In all venues the level of PM2.5 dropped anywhere from
47 – 95%.
The Air Quality Index (AQI), used by Michigan’s Department of
Environmental Quality to communicate health levels of outdoor air to the public,
identifies air pollutant concentrations as one of six color-coded category
levels ranging from good to hazardous. “When the PM2.5 levels from
the air monitoring study before and after the law are plotted on the AQI, it is
clear that the indoor air quality in the monitored restaurants markedly
improved,” stated Valacak.
“The results
from this study provide clear evidence that the law has been successful in
protecting workers and the public from the health harms of secondhand smoke
exposure in Michigan workplaces,” added Valacak. To view a copy of the survey
results or for more information about Michigan’s smoke-free law visit
www.michigan.gov/smokefreelaw
.
