BMJ  2007;335:549 (15 September), doi:10.1136/bmj.39315.670208.47 (published 9 September 2007)

Research

Changes in exposure of adult non-smokers to secondhand smoke after implementation of smoke-free legislation in Scotland: national cross sectional survey

¹ NHS Health Scotland, Edinburgh EH12 5EZ , ² NHS Health Scotland, Glasgow G3 7LS

Objective To measure change in adult non-smokers' exposure to secondhand smoke in public and private places after smoke-free legislation was implemented in Scotland.

Design Repeat cross sectional survey.

Setting Scotland.

Participants Scottish adults, aged 18 to 74 years, recruited and interviewed in their homes.

Intervention Comprehensive smoke-free legislation that prohibits smoking in virtually all enclosed public places and workplaces, including bars, restaurants, and cafes.

Outcome measures Salivary cotinine, self reported exposure to smoke in public and private places, and self reported smoking restriction in homes and in cars.

Results Overall, geometric mean cotinine concentrations in adult non-smokers fell by 39% (95% confidence interval 29% to 47%), from 0.43 ng/ml at baseline to 0.26 ng/ml after legislation (P<0.001). In non-smokers from non-smoking households, geometric mean cotinine concentrations fell by 49% (40% to 56%), from 0.35 ng/ml to 0.18 ng/ml (P<0.001). The 16% fall in cotinine concentrations in non-smokers from smoking households was not statistically significant. Reduction in exposure to secondhand smoke was associated with a reduction after legislation in reported exposure to secondhand smoke in public places (pubs, other workplaces, and public transport) but not in homes and cars. We found no evidence of displacement of smoking from public places into the home.

Conclusions Implementation of Scotland's smoke-free legislation has been accompanied within one year by a large reduction in exposure to secondhand smoke, which has been greatest in non-smokers living in non-smoking households. Non-smokers living in smoking households continue to have high levels of exposure to secondhand smoke.

CiteULike    Complore    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?

Related Articles

Confessions of an accordion cleaner

John F Garvey, Paul McElwaine, Thomas S Monaghan, and Walter T McNicholas
BMJ 2007 335: 630. [Extract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Changes in child exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (CHETS) study after implementation of smoke-free legislation in Scotland: national cross sectional survey

Patricia C Akhtar, Dorothy B Currie, Candace E Currie, and Sally J Haw
BMJ 2007 335: 545. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

The future of smoke-free legislation

Simon Chapman
BMJ 2007 335: 521-522. [Extract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Legislation for smoke-free workplaces and health of bar workers in Ireland: before and after study

Shane Allwright, Gillian Paul, Birgit Greiner, Bernie J Mullally, Lisa Pursell, Alan Kelly, Brendan Bonner, Maureen D'Eath, Bill McConnell, James P McLaughlin, Diarmuid O'Donovan, Eamon O'Kane, and Ivan J Perry
BMJ 2005 331: 1117. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Estimate of deaths attributable to passive smoking among UK adults: database analysis

Konrad Jamrozik
BMJ 2005 330: 812. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Reduced incidence of admissions for myocardial infarction associated with public smoking ban: before and after study

Richard P Sargent, Robert M Shepard, and Stanton A Glantz
BMJ 2004 328: 977-980. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

This article has been cited by other articles:

• Pell, J. P., Haw, S., Cobbe, S., Newby, D. E., Pell, A. C.H., Fischbacher, C., McConnachie, A., Pringle, S., Murdoch, D., Dunn, F., Oldroyd, K., MacIntyre, P., O'Rourke, B., Borland, W. (2008). Smoke-free Legislation and Hospitalizations for Acute Coronary Syndrome. NEJM 359: 482-491 [Abstract] [Full text]  
• Gotz, N. K., van Tongeren, M., Wareing, H., Wallace, L. M., Semple, S., MacCalman, L. (2008). Changes in air quality and second-hand smoke exposure in hospitality sector businesses after introduction of the English Smoke-free legislation. J Public Health (Oxf) 0: fdn062v1-8 [Abstract] [Full text]  
• Cesaroni, G., Forastiere, F., Agabiti, N., Valente, P., Zuccaro, P., Perucci, C. A. (2008). Effect of the Italian Smoking Ban on Population Rates of Acute Coronary Events. Circulation 117: 1183-1188 [Abstract] [Full text]  
• Wimbush, E., Young, I., Robertson, G. (2007). Developing effective policy and practice for health promotion in Scotland. Promotion & Education 14: 228-232 [Abstract]  
• Garvey, J. F, McElwaine, P., Monaghan, T. S, McNicholas, W. T (2007). Confessions of an accordion cleaner. BMJ 335: 630-630 [Full text]  
• Chapman, S. (2007). The future of smoke-free legislation. BMJ 335: 521-522 [Full text]  

Rapid Responses:

Read all Rapid Responses

Confessions of an accordion cleaner – a marker of improved air quality since the Irish smoking ban

John F. Garvey, et al.
bmj.com, 24 Sep 2007 [Full text]