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Fact Sheet

Smoke-Free Policies Improve Health

(updated August 2008)

• Studies conducted in several communities, states, regions, and countries have found that implementing smoke-free laws is associated with rapid and substantial reductions in hospital heart attack admissions. These reductions appear to be more pronounced among nonsmokers than among smokers.^{1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9}
• A study in Scotland found that implementing a comprehensive national smoke-free law was associated with rapid improvements in a number of health outcomes in nonsmoking bar workers, including—
  • Reductions in self-reported respiratory and sensory symptoms
  • Improvements in objectively measured lung function
  • Reductions in objectively measured systemic inflammation
  • Improved self-reported quality of life among asthmatic bar employees¹⁰
• A study in Ireland found that implementing a comprehensive national smoke-free law was associated with—
  • An 83% reduction in particulate matter levels in pubs
  • An 80% reduction in benzene levels in pubs
  • A 79% reduction in exhaled carbon monoxide in bar workers
  • Improvements in objectively measured lung function among nonsmoking bar workers
  • Reductions in self-reported respiratory and sensory symptoms among nonsmoking bar workers¹¹
• A study in California found that bartenders' respiratory health improved after implementing a state law making bars smoke-free. Specifically, the proportion of bartenders reporting respiratory and sensory symptoms decreased and bartenders' clinical measures of lung function improved.¹²

References

1. Sargent RP, Shepard RM, Glantz SA. Reduced Incidence of Admissions for Myocardial Infarction Associated with Public Smoking Ban: Before and After Study. British Medical Journal. 2004;328:977–980 [cited 2008 Mar 03].
2. Barone-Adesi F, Vizzini L, Merletti F, Richiardi L. Short-term Effects of Italian Smoking Regulation on Rates of Hospital Admission for Acute Myocardial Infarction. European Heart Journal. 2006;20:2468–2472 [cited 2008 Mar 03].
3. Bartecchi C, Alsever RN, Nevin-Woods C, Thomas WM, Estacio RO, Bartelson BB, Krantz MJ. Reduction in the Incidence of Acute Myocardial Infarction Associated with a Citywide Smoking Ordinance. Circulation. 2006;114:1490–1496 [cited 2008 Mar 03].
4. Khuder SA, Milz S, Jordan T, Price J, Silvestri K, Butler P. The Impact of a Smoking Ban on Hospital Admissions for Coronary Heart Disease. Preventive Medicine. 2007;45:3–8 [cited 2008 Mar 03].
5. Juster HR, Loomis BR, Hinman TM, Farrelly MC, Hyland A, Bauer UE, Birkhead GS. Declines in Hospital Admissions for Acute Myocardial Infarction in New York State After Implementation of a Comprehensive Smoking Ban. American Journal of Public Health. 2007;97(11):2035–2039 [cited 2008 Mar 03].
6. Seo D-C, Torabi MR. Reduced Admissions for Acute Myocardial Infarction Associated with a Public Smoking Ban: Matched Controlled Study. Journal of Drug Education. 2007;37(3):217–226 [cited 2008 Mar 03].
7. Lemstra M, Neudorf C, Opondo J. Implications of a Public Smoking Ban. Revue Canadienne de Sante Publique. 2008;99(1):62–65 [cited 2008 Mar 03].
8. Cesaroni G, Forastiere F, Agabiti N, Valente P, Zuccaro P, Perucci CA. Effect of the Italian Smoking Ban on Population Rates of Acute Coronary Events. Circulation. 2008 [cited 2008 Mar 03].
9. Pell JP, Haw S, Cobbe S, Newby DE, Pell AC, Fischbacher C, McConnachie A, Pringle S, Murdoch D, Dunn F, Oldroyd K, Macintyre P, O'Rourke B, Borland W. Smoke-free Legislation and Hospitalizations for Acute Coronary Syndrome. New England Journal of Medicine. 2008;359(5):482–91 [cited 2008 Aug 15].
10. Menzies D, Nair A, Williamson PA, Schembri S, Al-Khairalla MZH, Barnes M, Fardon TC, McFarlane L, Magee GJ, Lipworth BJ. Respiratory Symptoms, Pulmonary Function, and Markers of Inflammation Among Bar Workers Before and After a Legislative Ban on Smoking in Public Places. Journal of the American Medical Association. 2006;296(14):1742–1748 [cited 2008 Mar 03].
11. Goodman P, Agnew M, McCaffrey M, Paul G, Clancy L. Effects of the Irish Smoking Ban on Respiratory Health of Bar Workers and Air Quality in Dublin Pubs. American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine. 2007 [cited 2008 Mar 03].
12. Eisner MD, Smith AK, Blanc PD. Bartenders' Respiratory Health After Establishment of Smoke-free Bars and Taverns. Journal of the American Medical Association. 1998;280(22):1909–1914 [cited 2008 Mar 03].

For Further Information

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
Office on Smoking and Health
E-mail: tobaccoinfo@cdc.gov
Phone: 1-800-CDC-INFO

Media Inquiries: Contact CDC's Office on Smoking and Health press line at 770-488-5493.

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