Increased Health Risk from secondhand smoke in American Casinos (Environmental Research)
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The March 25, 2011 issue of the scientific peer-reviewed journal Environmental Research published a study entitled Fine particle air pollution and secondhand smoke exposures and risks inside 66 U.S. casinos. The study revealed that even occasional gamblers have increased health risks due to secondhand smoke particulate matter migrating from gaming areas into nonsmoking restaurants located near the gaming floors.
Findings:
- PM2.5 air pollution levels exceeded World Health Organization standards in 93% of the 66 smoking casinos.
- Casino ventilation and air cleaning practices failed to control secondhand smoke.
- Secondhand smoke contaminated unseparated nonsmoking areas like casino restaurants.
- Secondhand smoke in casinos creates an acute risk of cardiovascular morbidity for casino patrons.
- Smoke-free casinos reduced fine particle air pollution to outdoor levels.
The study compared new data collected from eight casinos Reno, Nevada, to data collected in previous studies of secondhand smoke levels in casinos in California, Delaware, Nevada New Jersey and Pennsylvania, and to data collected from three nonsmoking casinos (including a smokefree casino in Fernley, Nevada) for comparison. Data included measuring air quality as well as cotinine levels in nonsmoking workers exposed to secondhand smoke in the workplace (cotinine is a byproduct of nicotine that is detected in body fluids). Read the Stanford University press release. The researchers are with Tufts University School of Medicine, Standford University and Repace Associates, and was funded by the Flight Attendants Medical Research Institute.