Quality of air in closed public places where smoking is banned has improved

The quality of air in closed public areas where smoking is not allowed has considerably improved following the enforcement of the law on tobacco control adopted in 2015. On the other hand, the high level of air pollution in the places where the law is broken is alarming, shows a study carried out by the Center for Health Policies and Studies (PAS) in 25 public eating places in Chisinau.

According to the study, which was presented in a news conference at IPN, in 14 of the 25 checked restaurants, cafes and bars where they do not smoke, the concentration of particulate matter PM2.5 (mixture of particulates with a wide range of chemical compositions and a diameter smaller than 2.5 micrometers) decreased over 26 times compared with 2013 to 14.7 mg/m3 on average. This is within the limits of the norms (≤15 mg/m3) for air quality set by the United States Environmental Protection Agency.

PAS expert Gennady Turcanu said the high level of air pollution in public eating places where the anti-smoking law is violated is worrisome. The concentration of particulate matter PM2.5 here is of 338 μg/m3. Thus, the persons, including the healthy ones, must avoid any activity in these places.

The study revealed there is no difference between the quality of air when they smoke tobacco products or only products based on plants, herbs or fruit, which do not contain tobacco, such as the hookahs or electronic cigarettes.

Gennady Turcanu noted the public eating places where he law is broken and smoking is allowed have a high level of air pollution and the employees and clients continue to be exposed to the noxious effects of passive smoking.

The study was conducted during rush hour at restaurants, cafes and bars that had ventilation systems. The quality of air was measured with a particle monitoring device called SidePak Aerosol Monitor during not less than 30 minutes inside each place.

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.

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