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Exposure to tobacco smoke before and after a partial smoking ban in prison : indoors air quality measures

Ritter, Catherine and Huynh, Cong Khanh and Etter, Jean-François and Elger, Bernice S.. (2012) Exposure to tobacco smoke before and after a partial smoking ban in prison : indoors air quality measures. Tobacco control, Vol. 21. pp. 488-491.

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Official URL: http://edoc.unibas.ch/dok/A6001815

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Abstract

Although exposure to secondhand smoke (SHS) is reportedly high in prison, few studies have measured this in the prison environment, and none have done so in Europe. We measured two indicators of SHS exposure (particulate matter PM10 and nicotine) in fixed locations before (2009) and after (2010) introduction of a partial smoking ban in a Swiss prison. Access to smoking cessation support was available to detainees throughout the study. Objectives: To measure SHS before and after the introduction of a partial smoking ban. Methods Assessment of particulate matter PM10 (suspended microparticles of 10 ?m) and nicotine in ambient air, collected by real-time aerosol monitor and nicotine monitoring devices. Results: The authors observed a significant improvement of nicotine concentrations in the air after the introduction of the smoking ban (before: 7.0 μg/m3, after: 2.1 μg/m3, difference 4.9 μg/m3, 95% CI for difference: 0.52 to 9.8, p=0.03) but not in particulate matter PM10 (before: 0.11 mg/m3, after: 0.06 mg/m3, difference 0.06 mg/m3, 95% CI for difference of means: −0.07 to 0.19, p=0.30). Conclusions: The partial smoking ban was followed by a decrease in nicotine concentrations in ambient air. These improvements can be attributed to the introduction of the smoking ban since no other policy change occurred during this period. Although this shows that concentrations of SHS decreased significantly, protection was still incomplete and further action is necessary to improve indoor air quality.
Faculties and Departments:08 Cross-disciplinary Subjects > Ethik > Institut für Bio- und Medizinethik > Bio- und Medizinethik (Elger)
03 Faculty of Medicine > Departement Public Health > Ethik in der Medizin > Bio- und Medizinethik (Elger)
UniBasel Contributors:Elger, Bernice Simone and Ritter, Catherine
Item Type:Article, refereed
Article Subtype:Research Article
Publisher:BMJ Publ. Group
ISSN:0964-4563
Note:Publication type according to Uni Basel Research Database: Journal article
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Last Modified:01 Mar 2013 11:13
Deposited On:08 Nov 2012 16:15

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