The Center for Health Policies and Studies (PAS) carried out inspections in public eating places in Chisinau to determine the quality of air following the adoption in 2015 of the Law on Tobacco Control. Of the 25 visited places, 14 were also monitored in 2013. Five years ago, in 12 of the 14 places they smoked, but now they smoke in only one place. The Antismoking Law is violated in ten of the 11 places inspected this year for the first time.

In a news conference at IPN, Gennady Turcanu, expert at the PAS Center, said in the restaurants, cafes and bars where smoking is banned, the level of air pollution is much lower compared with the situation of 2013. The public eating places where the law is violated and smoking is allowed there have high air pollution levels. The employees and clients continue to be exposed to the noxious effects of passive smoking. Only the restaurants, bars and cafes that comply with the Law on Tobacco Control ensure the protection of employees and visitors from the effects of passive smoking.

According to the expert, the tobacco products and those from plants for smoking by burning, including cigars and hookahs, emit large quantities of small particles that are easily inhaled and enter deep in the lungs. The particulate matter PM2.5 is a good marker of pollution with tobacco smoke and smoke produced by plants for smoking. The monitoring showed that in restaurants, cafes and bars where they do not smoke, the concentration of particulate matter PM2.5 decreased over 26 times compared with 2013, when smoking in these places was allowed, from 397 μg/m3 to 14.7 μg/m3.

According to the air quality index used in the U.S., if the concentration of particulate matter PM2.5 is equal to or exceeds 251 μg/m3, this is dangerous, especially for persons with cardiovascular and respiratory diseases and for children and elderly people.

The study was conducted during rush hour at restaurants, cafes and bars. The quality of air was measured with a particle monitoring device called SidePak Aerosol Monitor during not less than 30 minutes inside places visited by experts as clients.

The study was possible owing to the project “Moldova Without Tobacco Smoke” that was financed by “Campanian for Tobacco-Free Kids” and “Bloomberg Philanthropies” and was implemented by the Center for Health Policies and Studies.