A smoking ban in bars imposed three years ago in Ireland has helped to improve the health of bar workers immensely, a new study has just revealed.
The research published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine showed that bar workers respiratory health had improved as a result of the ban.
A team from the Research Institute for a Tobacco Free Society in Dublin (RITFS) measured particles and benzene in 42 Dublin pubs and 73 male bar staff underwent lung tests. Before the ban, workers were exposed to 40 hours of tobacco smoke a week and after the ban this fell to 25 minutes.
The results found a 99 per cent decrease in exposure to tobacco smoke and an 83 per cent reduction in tiny particles in bar air.
Tests of lung function showed an improvement in non-smoking barmen after the ban and the workers reported reductions in health problems. Significant improvements in cough and phlegm production were found in non-smoking employees. Workers who smoke saw their health continue to decline, with a ban only benefiting their sensitivity to irritants.
“These results confirm that the approach of a total ban on smoking in the workplace is successful in reducing the exposure of workers to particles,” said Dr Luke Clancy, director of the RITFS.
Dr Godfrey said,
If all European countries were to introduce a smoking ban in public places, between five to ten million premature deaths from smoking could be prevented over the next generation.
In 2004 Ireland was the world’s first country to completely ban smoking from public places. If Ireland, a cigarette loving country can successfully implement the ban than anyone can. It is now used in Scotland, Wales, as well as Northern Ireland and England who are set to adopt it on April 30th and July 1st respectively.
Via : BBC NEWS