Concentrations of secondhand tobacco smoke inhaled in restaurants and bars that allow smoking are exceptionally high and hazardous, U.S. researchers found.

A report by the Oklahoma Tobacco Research Center found the average particulate level measured in restaurant smoking rooms was beyond the hazardous extreme based on levels established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The levels in bars were higher, the study said.

Lead investigator Dr. Heather Basara, an industrial hygienist, said tobacco smoke levels were evaluated based on measurements of particulates smaller than 2.5 microns, which come primarily from tobacco smoke.

Levels averaged 380 micrograms per cubic meter of air in the restaurant smoking rooms tested, and 655 micrograms per cubic meter in the bars. Restaurants with no smoking averaged 26 micrograms per cubic meter.

The EPA scale ranks outdoor levels of particulate pollution as unhealthy at 66-150, very unhealthy at 151-250 and hazardous at higher concentrations such as the levels found in the Oklahoma restaurant smoking rooms and bars tested for the report.

“These levels are exceptionally high and not healthy for the employees and patrons exposed to particles found in secondhand smoke,” Basara said in a statement.

source: ouhsc.edu

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One Response to “Pollution is high in bars allowing smoking”

1. Bob says:

   February 24, 2010 at 6:49 pm

   This is really stupid. Bars aren’t health clubs. People go to health clubs to get healthy, not bars.