Researchers in Athens, Ga., Trying to Determine if Second-Hand Smoke Outside Poses Health Risks

Could second-hand cigarette smoke still pose a risk to us, even when it is outside in the open air? That's what researchers have set out to prove. Their findings may surprise you. According to Science Daily, researchers in Athens, Ga., have set out to prove that second-hand smoke is increasing outdoors, due to the increase in smoking bans in bars and restaurants. They had hoped to discover whether or not the extra smoke outdoors is causing a significant increase in air pollutants for those who frequent the areas.

Being that Athens is a college town with many students, researchers were concerned for the health of the students. Students are often seen gathered together in large groups outside of businesses with some of them smoking, which means there should be a large amount of exposure to the second-hand smoke. According to the researchers, their findings could lead to bringing more attention to cigarette smoke to policy makers who regulate these decisions.

Athens has over a hundred bars and restaurants. The city banned smoking in these establishments partially in 2004. A full ban was set in place in 2005. Now, it is common to see smokers gather around a general area together outside in order to smoke and converse. This is a more common occurrence since the smoking ban was put into place. It has left smokers no choice but to smoke outside, which leads to many of them smoking right outside the establishments.

Dr. Naeher, a PhD and researcher at the University of Georgia College of Public Health, along with his students measured the level of carbon monoxide and PM2.5 in an effort to see how much second-hand smoke was being produced. PM2.5 is a combination of small particles that penetrate deeply into the lungs. The doctor and his students measured these two substances by going downtown for four weekends in a row during the afternoons and evenings, the times where the most people frequented the establishments. They visited and measured the air in five different locations, which consisted of two restaurants, two bars, and one area with no smokers. The particles and carbon monoxide were measured every 30 seconds. Every 5 minutes, the number of cars, smokers, and other non-smoking passersby were counted.

The research indicated that the levels of pollutants in the air would rise when the number of smokers increased. The same rise did not occur with increased levels of traffic by the vehicles. Dr. Naeher said "This suggests that we can measure the increase in these pollutants from secondhand smoke."

The researchers are now conducting a follow-up study that calls for collecting urine and saliva from students. The reason for this is to see if they can find chemicals that are specifically relative to cigarette smoke in an attempt to find out how much second hand smoke people are exposed to when congregating in high traffic areas of smokers, like those that can be found outside the bar or even the workplace.

"There's a wide range of health effects that are tied to secondhand smoke. With more inside smoking bans, more people seem to be smoking outside. Are we creating zones that are potentially unhealthy? That's what we're trying to figure out", says Dr. Naehler.

News Source:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/05/070522114813.htm Science Daily - "Indoor Smoking Bans..."